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1642  1892 


LEGENDS  OF  WOBURN 

SECOND   SERIES 

now  first  written  and  preserved  in 
collected  form  from  old  traditions 
Legends  and  History  Illustrated 
by  thirty-two  characteristic  plates 
to  which  is  added  a  table  of  local 
Weather  Indications  by  Parker  Lin- 
DALL  Converse  author  of  Legends  of 
WoBURN  First  Series  Story  of  Cre- 
ation Sc 


What  Pemains  should  not  be  lost 
Go  nouj  and  gather  it  in 


Woburn  Mass 

Printed  for  Subscribers  Only 

i8g6 


Copyright,  i8g6. 
By  Parker  L.  Converse. 


Legends  of  Woburn, 


Second  Series. 


1896. 


Note. 


250  Copies  only  of  this  book  have  been  printed, 
after  which  the  type  was  distributed. 

Each    copy    is    numbered    and    registered. 


NO. 


TO   THK 


77/75  IVOJ^J^ 

Is  respectfiUly  dedicated  by  their 

fellow   citizen , 

THE     AUTHOR. 


CI^c  TXexos  print, 

IPoburn, 

mass. 


Acknowledgments. 


The  Author  returns  thanks  to  Miss  Susan  E. 
Edgell,  Mrs  Mary  F.  Wyman,  Mrs.  Almira  Garland, 
and  Messrs  William  R.  Cutter,  John  Johnson,  Ed- 
ward F.  Johnson,  I^eonard  Thompson,  William  T. 
Grammer,  Alva  S.  Wood,  Alvah  Buckman,  Austin  W. 
Parker,  Jacob  Ames,  Waterman  Brown,  Charles  S. 
Converse,  and  others,  for  their  assistance  and  verifica- 
tion of  the  plates. 

A1.SO,  to  the  editor  of  The  Bostonian,  for  permission 
to  copy  the  plate  of  the  "  Courting  Stick  "  in  that 
magazine. 

Also,  to  George  A.  Hobbs,  editor  of  the  Woburii 
Journal,  and  Frank  E.  Wetherell,  editor  of  The  News, 
(Woburn),  for  kindly  notices  and  favors. 

Our  local  artists,  Messrs.  Marshall  M.  Tidd,  Albert 
Thomp,son,  Philip  K.  A.  Richardson,  and  Mrs.  Mary 
C.  Blanchard,  have  greatly  enriched  the  pages  b)^ 
their  pencils ;  while  the  Boston  Heliotype  Printing 
Company,  with  "  art  which  conceals  art,"  has  repro- 
duced their  drawings,  and  the  excellent  photographs 
of  Mr.  Charles  H.  Taylor,  so  faithfully,  that  the  origi- 
nals seem  to  have  dropped  on  each  individual  plate, 
to  illustrate  the  finely  printed  text,  executed  at  the 
office  of  Mr.  J.  M.  Wallace. 


'S^i^^-t^d' 


I'rologuc,         ....... 

Woburn,  History  and  Meaning  of  Word, 

Woburn,  Its  Traditions,  Legends  and  History, 

Mts.  Mianomo,  Towanda,  and  Lake  Innitou,  Indian 


Middlesex  Canal  and  Lake  Innitou,  Traditions  of 
John  Flagg  and  the  Imps.,         .... 

Fowle  Tavern,  Central  House  and  Wood's  Tavern, 
Mary  Buckle's  Party.        ..... 

The  Haunted  Oak,  Legend  of  Wright's  Pond,   . 

She  Set  Her  Cap  for  Him.     A  Ditty. 

Dunham's  Pond,  Its  Traditions  and  Legends,    . 

Racing  for  Life.     Story  of  Lake  Innitou. 

The  Mousall  House, 

The  Sounding  Board. 

Knights  of  St.  Crispin  of  Woburn, 

Ye  Antient  Militia  of  Woburn, 

Meteorology  of  Woburn, 

Epilogue,  ..... 


Legend, 
A  Poem 


A  Poem 
A  Poem 
A  Poem 
A  Poem 
A   Poem 


X 

1 

16 

64 
89 
110 
118 
131 
140 
151 
157 
166 
170 
176 
180 
223 
234 
252 


tx. 


T55^ 


"^ 


^v>lL-— _ 


...  J^^ 

First   Meeting   House    and    Parsonage. 

Frontispiece.  A.  Thompson. 

High  Street,  Woburn,  Beds.,  England,     page 
J.  T.  Wood.       3 
Municipal  Building  and  First  Univer- 

salist  Church.     Photograph.        .  17 

Ordination  of  Rev.  Thomas  Carter.     A.  Thompson. 
Second  Meeting  House.  .         .    A.  Thompson. 

The  Courting  Stick.       .  .  Frizzell  &  Chaloner. 

Mt.  Mianomo.     Photograph,  .... 

First  Inn  and  Locks  at  Horn  Pond.        M.  M.  Tidd, 
Corporal  Wright's  Bridge,         .         .         .         .       M 

Ruins  of  Viaduct.     Photograph, 
Sail  Boat.     Drawing,       .  , 

Si.  Fowle's  Den.     ......     A.  Thompson 

The  Black  House.  .         .         .         .         .A.  Thompson 

Fowle  Tavern.         ......     A.  Thompson 

Central  House  in  1855,  with  trees  in  road.     Photograph, 
Main  St.,  E.  side,  Union  St.  to  Bank  Block,  1835.    A.  Thompson 
Wood's  Tavern.      ......     A.  Thompson 

Wright's  Pond 


P.AGE 

21 

23 
39 
65 
89 
M.  Tidd, 


Heliotype, 


Diagrammatic  Love  Cap. 

The  Lady.     Drawing. 

Cupid.     Drawing, 

The  Lovely  Girl.     Drav.ing, 

Osculation.     Drawing,    . 

Dunham's  Pond  in  1830. 

The  Mousall  House. 

Shoemaker  working  on  low  seat. 

Egyptian  Sandal.     Drawing, 

Assyrian  Sandal.     Drawing,     . 

Roman  Buskin.     Drawing, 

Carbatine  or  Moccasin  of  American 

Squaw  Moccasins.     Drawing, 

Indian  Snow  Shoes.     Photograph, 

Ancient  Shoemaker's  Shop. 

Company  of  Ancient  Militia. 

Section  of  Atmosphere  showing  air  circulation. 

Formation  of  Thunder  Cloud. 

Weather  Table  showing  annual  winds  and  rains. 


P.  K.  A.  Richardson 
Mary  C.  Blanchard 


A.  Thompson 
A.  Thompson 


Indian.     Drawing, 


\.  Thompson 

Nast 

Flammarion 

Flammarion 

'.  L.  Converse 


100 
111 
117 
119 
123 
125 
129 
141 
151 
152 
154 
155 
156 
157 
171 
181 
182 
182 
182 
185 
185 
187 
203 
223 
237 
239 
245 


Prologue. 


My  native  place,  I  love  thee  well, 
Each  hill  and  vale  with  legends  teeming, 
Thy  changing  views  by  lake  and  dell, 
Have  like  thy  tales,  a  charm  and  meaning. 

Thy  very  name,  of  Saxon  born 
In  Mother  Isle,  far  o'er  the  sea,, 
Woo-borne  'twas  then,  but  Wood-brook  sweet 
In  English,  dearest  sound  to  me  : — 

Brings  hallowed  thoughts  of  earliest  times, 
Of  steady  gains  down  to  this  hour 
For  God,  humanity  and  right. 
Wrought  by  man's  Heavenl}'  given  power. 

What  seems  so  commonplace  and  old, 
Just  how  our  fathers,  mothers  acted. 
The  games  they  played,  the  stories  told. 
And  in  what  lines  of  thought  reflected  : — 

Will  all  be  read  in  future  days 
With  wonder,  when  new  customs  come, 
Their  dresses,  living,  sayings,  plays. 
And  how  thej^  talked  and  looked  at  home. 

The  Red-Man's  mind  excelled  in  fine 

Imagination's  vivid  power, 

And  left  in  still  unwritten  line. 

Its  high  wrought  notions  to  this  hour. 

Woburn's  old  buildings  now  first  shown 
To  modern  eyes,  are  preserved  here, 
With  plates  of  old-time  scenes  now  gone, 
And  streets  as  ancientlv  thev  were. 


XI 


The  town's  first  Meeting  House,  Mousall's, 
First  dwelling,  built  on  "  Hilly  Way," 
The  Locks  and  first  Inn  at  Horn  Pond,  with 
Wright's  and  Dunham's  ponds,  both  drained  to-day. 

I  haste  to  snatch  what  ought  to  last 

Of  by  gone  ways,  sights,  legends,  fading 

To  mists  in  a  relentless  past, 

By  type's  immortal  power  me  aiding. 

Help  me,  ye  Shades  !  to  garner  up 
These  fleeting  remnants  ling'ring  yet. 
Before  Time's  ruthless  hand  doth  drop 
The  curtain  down  on  these  unkept. 

In  future  years,  when  God's  great  laws, 
Have  swept  away  all  those  now  living, 
Who  knew  these  former  places,  saws, 
'Tis  hoped  that  pleasure  they'll  be  giving, — 

For  here,  a  panoramic  view. 
In  pictured  page  quick  passes  by, 
And  Woburn's  ancient  scenes  anew, 
Stand  prominent  before  the  eye. 


Origin,   History  and  Meaning 
OF  THE  Word  Woburn. 


What's  In  A  Name? 

Shakespeare. 


;HE  Jiistor}^  of  Woburn  has  been  almost  ex- 
yi^  haustivel}'  written  by  Rev.  Samuel  Sewall 
in  his  compilation  for  the  city  ;  and  by  Rev. 
Leander  Thompson,  Wm.  R.  Cutter,  Esq., 
and  Hon,  Edward  F.  Johnson,  in  their 
several  able  publications,  but  special  "finds"  oc- 
sionally  add  somewhat  to  our  previous  stock  of  knowl- 
edge, one  of  which,  believed  to  be  new,  is  presented 
in  this  article. 

Heretofore,  in  our  historical  searches,  we  have 
only  gone  so  far  as  to  investigate  how*  our  town  came 
o  have  its  present  name  given  to  it,  and  in  honor  of 
whom,  and  of  what  place  in  the  fatherland,  was  it  so 
given  ;  but  now  we  have  the  means  to  go  further,  and 
determine  what  is  the  origin,  history  and  meaning  of 
the  word  itself. 

On  consulting  a  map  of  the  New  England  States, 
so  far  as  mere  names  are  concerned,  one  might  well 
suppose  he  was  looking  at  Old  England  itself,  so  ex- 


clusively  are  the  designations  of  the  counties,  cities 
and  towns  taken  from  those  of  the  Mother  Country  ; 
and  it  is  only  on  inspection  of  maps  of  the  southern 
and  western  states  that  we  realize  the  fact,  that  these 
designations  have  mostly  disappeared,  to  give  place 
to  others,  especially  of  Indian  origin. 

The  old  question  above  mentioned,  of  how  our 
town  came  to  be  designated  bj^  its  present  name,  has 
been  discussed  by  Sewall  in  his  History  of  Woburn, 
and  b}^  Cutter  and  Johnson  in  their  publications. 
There  is  no  positive  proof  to  be  derived  from  the  rec- 
ords or  from  traditions,  so  the  m.atter  is  necessarily 
left  to  conjecture,  based  on  what  can  be  gathered 
from  contemporaneous  events  available  at  present. 

Sewall,  in  his  history,  page  539,  reasons,  "that  it 
was  in  honor  of  Hon.  Richard  Russell,"  who  came  to 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  1640,  from  Hertfordshire, 
England,  and  who  was  a  highly  distinguished  man 
here,  generally  supposed  to  be  a  relative  of  the  noble 
family  of  the  Russells  in  Bedfordshire,  who  had  long 
been  settled  at  Woburn,  in  that  County,  and  were 
proprietors  of  Woburn  Abbey,  or  of  a  palace  built  on 
its  site,  which  the}'  made  their  home  ;  and  he  infers 
therefore,  that  when  Charlestown  village  was  to  be 
incorporated  in  1642,  by  the  General  Court,  Nowell, 
Sedgwick  and  Willoughby,  deputies  to  the  September 
Session,  or  one  of  them,  might  have  proposed  the 
name  Woburn,  out  of  their  high  regard  for  the  greatly 
valued  and  distinguished  new  citizen,  Hon.  Richard 
Russell. 


The  reasons  advanced  b}^  Hon.  E.  F.  Johnson 
and  William  R.  Cutter,  Esq.,  in  their  publications  are, 
that  Capt.  Robert  Sedgwick  was  one  of  three  distin- 
guished patrons  in  the  settlement  of  our  infant  town, 
that  he  was  born  and  baptised  in  Old  Woburn,  that 
in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  he  was  a  neighbor  of  Edward 
Johnson,  one  of  the  principal  settlers  of  our  town,  and 
a  distinguished  military  officer,  that  he  was  very  in- 
fluential here,  that  his  family  was  one  of  distinction 
in  England,  and  himself  a  noted  man  there,  and  was 
prominent  in  selecting  the  present  location  for  our 
city.  So  they  conclude,  therefrom,  that  it  was  named 
in  compliment  to  him,  after  his  native  place,  viz.: 
Woburn,  Bedfordshire,  England.  The  matter  is  not 
free  from  doubt,  for  Hon.  Richard  Russell  was  a 
greatly  prized  accession  to  Charlestown,  and  a  member 
of  one  of  the  highest  families  in  England,  the  head  of 
which  then  resided  in,  and  owned  the  greater  part  of 
old  Woburn. 

Of  the  patrons,  Increase  Nowell,  magistrate, — the 
first  named,  a  man  of  great  influence, — took  a  promi- 
nent position,  while  Rev.  Zechariah  Sims  the  second, 
was  the  foremost  of  the  clergy  in  those  days  when  the 
church  had  almost  absolute  sway,  both  of  whom 
would  exercise  the  strongest  influence,  if  they  chose 
so  to  do,  while  Capt.  Robert  Sedgwick  the  last  named 
of  the  Patrons  was  very  prominent  in  the  starting  of 
the  new  town,  although  it  appears  b)!- Johnson's  verse, 
that  he,  in  common  with  Nowell  and  Sims,  from  fear 
the  babe  would  outgrow  its  Mama,  verj'  early  grew 


lukewarm  and  abandoned  the  struggling  babe  to  its 
fate,  even  probably  before  it  was  named,  and  were 
never  after  heard  of  again  in  the  history  of  the  town 
or  its  settlement  which  might  have  had  an  ad- 
verse influence  as  against  Sedgwick,  and  in  favor 
of  Russell.  The  records  are  silent.  The  evidence  is 
purely  circumstantial.  Taking,  however,  both  sides 
of  the  question  into  consideration,  the  theor}^  that  it 
was  named  in  part  at  least,  for  Capt.  Robert  Sedgwick, 
would  seem  to  be  the  best  of  the  two  at  present. 

But  now  the  next  question  is,  what  is  the  origin, 
history  and  meaning  of  the  word  itself  ?  This  would 
seem  to  be  quite  as  interesting  an  inquiry  as  the  above ; 
and  further,  if,  outside  of  the  reasons  above  given,  it 
has  any  significance  in  its  meaning,  which  lent  a  hand 
in  giving  that  name  to  the  infant  settlement,  and  still 
further,  how  many  places  in  the  world  have  the  same 
name,  how  are  they  spelled,  and  why  are  they  spelled 
in  so  many  different  ways  ?  And  still  further,  how 
many  different  ways  has  that  name  been  spelled  on 
letters,  newspapers  and  packages  received  at  the  post 
ofl&ces  of  Woburn,  Bedfordshire,  England,  and  Wo- 
burn,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 

It  is  to  the  pagan  Angles,  an  ancient  Low  Ger- 
man tribe,  from  whom  England  derived  its  name 
Angle-Eand  or  England,  who  went  over  to  Britian  in 
the  fifth  century,  and  to  the  Saxons,  also  pagans, 
another  Eow  German  tribe,  first  mentioned  in  history 
in  287  A.  D.,  who  together,  in  conjunction  with  other 
lesser  German  tribes,  and  the  Jutes  and  Frisians,  con- 


quered  the  native  Britons  and  established  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  Heptarchy,  which  various  tribes  had  different 
dialects,  also  partly  to  the  Normans  and  the  Romans, 
speaking  the  latin  language,  that  the  English  Nation 
is  indebted  for  its  consolidated  "  Mother  Tongue"  or 
"  English  as  it  is  now  spoken."  And  it  must  be  here 
observed,  that  the  Angles,  Saxons  and  other  tribes, 
like  our  American  Indians,  with  most  ancient,  and 
especially  barbarous  nations,  named  themselves  indi- 
vidually from  some  remarkable  or  noticeable  circum- 
stance or  occurrence,  happening  at  or  about  the  time 
of  their  birth ;  and  their  several  villages  and  noted 
places  from  some  characteristic  peculiar  to,  or  distinc- 
tive of,  the  locality  or  place,  or  from  some  prominent 
event  which  had  occurred  there  ;  consequently  it  will 
be  found  on  examination,  that  these  old  Saxons  and 
other  tribes  gave  expressive  names  to  very  many  old 
English  towns  and  places,  often  coining  compound 
words,  expresslj'  to  suit  the  particular  locality,  based 
on  its  special  features,  the  true  meaning  of  which 
can  be  discovered  through  the  old  Saxon  or  other 
tongue,  and  an  examination  of  the  situation. 

The  above  remarks  will  be  found  to  have  a  strong 
bearing  when  applied  to  the  question,  "why  Woburn, 
Bedfordshire,  Wooburn,  Bucks,  and  Woburn,  Mass., 
were  so  named."  There  are  tw^enty-one  places  in  the 
world,  so  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  which  bear  the 
name  of  Woburn,  in  one  of  its  various  spellings,  and 
these  will  be  found  on  examination  to  be  very  sig- 
nificant, especially  as  applied  to  the  older  ones. 


6 


In  England  there  are  three  towns,  viz.: — 
Woburn,  Bedfordshire, 
Wooburn,  Buckinghamshire. 
Oburn,  Dorsetshire. 

In  the  United  States  of  America  there  are  seven- 
teen, viz.: — 

Woburn,  Middlesex  County,  Mass. 

Bond  "         Illinois 

"  Mecklenburg  "        Virginia 

Woodbourne,    Sullivan  County       New  York 
"  Bucks  "  Pennsylvania 


Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Michigan 

Mississippi 

Nebraska 

North  Carolina 

Oregon 

Tennessee 

Virginia 


In  Canada  there  is  one,  viz. 

Woburn,  Scarborough  Parish,  Ontario. 


Woodbrook, 

Baltimore 

Woodburn, 

Macoupin 

Allen 

Clark 

Warren 

Oceana 

Sunflower 

Platte 

Person 

Marion 

Union 

lyOudown 

The  above  are  really  all  the  same,  and  of  Saxon 


origin.  They  are  composed  of  a  root,  viz.: — the  word 
burn,  bourn,  or  botiriie,  all  meaning  a  brook ;  and 
the  prefix  VVu,  Woo  or  Wo  all  of  which  in  the  original 
were  widtt ;  in  Anglo  Saxon,  zvudii ;  in  Old  English, 
wode,  in  Modern  English,  wood.  All  these  mean  a 
tree,  wood,  timber.     See  Am.  Enc.  Die.  p.  4538. 

In  seven  of  the  above,  both  syllables  are  left  in 
the  original  Saxon,  viz.: — Wo-burn,  5.  Woo-burn, 
I.  O-burn,  i.  In  thirteen,  the  first  sjdlable  has 
been  translated  into  English,  while  the  last  is  in  the 
original,  viz.:  Wood-bourne,  2,  and  Wood-burn,  11. 
One  only  has  been  fiilly  Englished,  viz. :  Wood-brook. 
In  seven  the  prefix  has  been  retained  untranslated  ; 
'\n  fourteen ,  it  has  been  defined  to  mean  wood,  while  in 
no  one  instance  has  it  been  assigned  a  different  mean- 
ing. Here  we  see  the  process  of  transformation  from 
the  original  tongue  to  the  full  English  name,  with  the 
above  result. 

Langley,  in  his  history  of  the  ' '  Hundred  of  Des- 
borough  "  in  Buckinghamshire,  England,  gives  the 
derivation  of  the  town  of  Wooburn  in  that  County,  by 
saying  "  that  it  signifies  a  winding,  deep  and  narrow 
valley,  with  a  rivulet  at  the  bottom,  and  the  sides 
thick  set  with  trees, ' '  therefore  it  was  so  named  for  its 
two  local  characteristics,  viz.:  rivulet  and  wood. 

Woburn,  Bedfordshire,  Eng.,  according  to  the 
history  of  that  town,  last  ed.  1845,  "has  a  little  stream 
of  water  called  'Crawley  Brook,'  running  through  it," 
in  a  formerly  wooded  country,  so  the  Saxons  named 
it  about  the  year  11 45,  when  a  little  hamlet,  from  its 


8 


local  traits,  while  in  neither  instance,  was  an}^  other 
meaning  than  wood  and  brook  ever  hinted  at.  The 
only  one  in  the  above  list  in  England,  not  exactly 
accounted  for,  is  0-burn,  but  it  will  be  noticed  that 
it  has  the  same  root  as  the  rest,  viz.:  burn,  a  brook, 
but  not  the  same  prefix,  either  in  Saxon  or  English, 
but  its  special  first  syllable  O  may  be  reasonably  ac- 
counted for,  either  by  it  having  a  different  meaning 
in  Saxon,  suggested  by  its  particular  locality,  or  by 
supposing  that  the  W  was  left  off  in  local  pronun- 
ciation, and  finally  in  writing  and  printing,  like  many 
another  in  England.  Edmunds  gives  it  as  his  opin- 
ion, that  the  prefix  Wo  is  from  Woh,  a  bend  ;  but  the 
local  authorities  I  follow,  give  no  such  meaning  ; 
their  writings  indicate  it  was  derived  as  above  stated. 
Our  first  settlers,  no  doubt,  had  all  this  in  mind 
when  they  came  here,  and  named  our  town,  for  thej^ 
were  men  and  women  of  education  and  refinement, 
well  versed  in  Saxon  and  English  lore,  who  would  be 
strongly  im^pressed  by  such  things,  and  take  particular 
notice  of  local  peculiarities  in  choosing  a  name.  It 
will  be  remembered  on  reflection,  that  the  Aberjona 
river  in  the  east  part  of  our  city,  at  the  time  our  fore- 
fathers came  here,  w^as  a  notable  stream  of  water,  run- 
ning in  a  valley,  through  a  heavity  wooded  country, 
therefore  having  precisely  the  local  characteristics 
which  in  Saxon  times  caused  their  towns  to  be  named 
as  they  were  ;  and  it  will  also  come  to  mind,  that  at 
that  time,  it  was  the  spot  first  chosen  as  the  site  for 
the   centre   of  the  new  town,  so  it  appears  that  the 


9 


name  Woo-borne  would  with  their  training  and  pre- 
dilections, apply  with  peculiar  force  in  the  selection  of 
a  name. 

Thus  it  would  seem  to  be  reasonably  clear,  that 
the  Saxons  in  early  days,  gave  Woburn,  Beds,  and 
Wooburn,  Bucks,  that  designation,  based  on  their 
similiar  local  traits;  that  our  village  possessed  the 
same  topographical  features,  still  stronger  developed, 
which  probably  did,  in  addition  to  what  has  been 
before  stated,  primarily  influence  the  first  settlers  as 
much  as  an^-thing  else,  in  choosing  that  Cognomen  as 
the  name  of  their  infant  settlement. 

Therefore,  whether  named  in  compliment  to  Rus- 
sel,  or  to  Sedgwick,  or  for  both,  and  for  its  local 
characteristics  combined,  which  might  fairly  be  argued, 
in  the  absence  of  positive  knowledge,  thanks  to  our 
poetical  ancestors,  they  followed  their  ancient  customs, 
by  recognizing  local  features  and  the  romantic  in  their 
choice,  in  giving  us  the  expressive  Saxon  compound 
word  Woo-borne,  equivalent  to  the  still  more  beautiful 
English  translation  Woodbrook,  as  the  name  of  our 
city. 

By  the  kindness  of  Dr.  George  B.  Clarke  of  Wo- 
burn, Bedfordshire,  England,  I  have  been  furnished 
with  a  rare  copy  of  the  history  of  that  town,  together 
with  a  plate  of  its  principal  street,  also  with  a  com- 
plete list  of  the  different  spellings  of  the  word  Woburn, 
on  letters  and  packages  received  at  the  Post  ofBce 
there,  as  noted  by  the  postmaster,  which  list  is  given 
below. 


10 


Various  ways  of  spelling  Woburn,  collected  from 
letters  and  parcels  by  the  Postmaster  of  Woburn, 
Bedfordshire,  England. 

242  diflferent  ways. 


Aubon 

Oporne 

Whobern 

Owburn 

Whoborn 

Boubone 

Obering 

Whobron 

Booburn 

Obborn 

Whohousn 

Buorn 

Olburn 

Whoobowen 

Obarn 

Whorebin 

Obren 

Whopen 

Habon 

Oobourn 

Wobburn 

Hoaborn 

Obert 

Woberan 

Heuborn 

Obairn 

Woban 

Hobern 

Obowin 

Wobberon 

Heobren 

Wobirn 

Hoburn 

Roburn 

Wobon 

Holbern 

Roobud 

Wobourne 

Holbin 

Reuber 

Waboun 

Hoolborn 

Roobnd 

Wobran 

Horeban 

Wo  Bin 

Horbon 

St.  Woburne 

Wobourn 

Houboun 

Uborn 

Woeburn 

Hourbon 

Uburn 

Wohbourn 

Hubarn 

Uobeen 

Wolburn 

Huban 

Uberer 

Waobourn 

Hubearn 

Uuburn 

Woobeern 

Huben 

Ubon 

Woobun 

Hubborne 

Ubun 

Wooburge 

II 


Hubon 

Woodbarn 

Hurben 

Valbon 

Woolbon 

Hurbon 

Vobam 

Woolburn 

Hurbn 

Woosbon 

Hubrn 

Woubnn 

Worborn 

Hurbin 

Woborn 

Woowbourn 

Hoabir 

Wooburm 

Wolborn 

Houbone 

Whrbourn 

Wolbor 

Hubbon 

Wobebourn 

Wooborn 

Hucbuer 

Whoebard 

Wobreo 

Hobor 

Woubon 

Woobern 

Hobart 

Worbn 

Worbon 

Houghburn 

Whobeen 

Woslorn 

Huburnon 

Wouber 

Worbebntn 

Hotsburn 

Whabarn 

Wouboarene 

Hoham 

Woabbern 

Woubun 

Holobon 

Woben 

Wouben 

Hubman 

Wholboon 

Woubure 

Hubeen 

Wosburn 

Wouburn 

Horbern 

Wobewn 

Wabourn 

Hobn 

Woubenn 

Wubon 

Hubhurn 

Wourbunn 

Wobury 

Houglibourn 

Wubawm 

Wobuan 

Hawburn 

Woubur 

Wwoburne 

Hurbunn 

Wayboum 

Wobuom 

Houberon 

Wobuen 

Whoper 

Herborn 

Woodburn 

Woobenud 

Hawboum 

Weeburn 

Woowborn 

Holbourn 

Woronburn 

Woarnb 

Hubburn 

Woblowne 

Wobborn 

12 


Holbhorn 

W  alburn 

Worbunn 

Hooben 

Wodburn 

Wwoo  Burn 

Habaen 

Wehbborn 

Woabarn 

Hulbon 

Waban 

Wobans 

Howbrn 

Whuband 

Wooben 

Hobuend 

Worborne 

Wodurn 

Ho  won 

Wouber 

Wolbourn 

Harborn 

Wolarn 

Woutbon 

Hoobbern 

Whobroun 

Wooborg 

Hoobone 

Wosurin 

Worban 

Haurbern 

Woorbunn 

Wilburn 

Hoobun 

Woerben 

Woodutn 

Wbun 

Woobbern 

Muubborn 

Wburn 

Wobin 

Weburn 

Woodburnt 

Naburn 

Woburn 

Wobwen 

Noburn 

Wobin 

Warben 

Norborn 

Woolm 

Wobre 

Woabom 

Wannbourn 

Oberon 

Waberne 

Wobbern 

Obon 

Wabm 

Womborne 

Obron 

Wabume 

Wodun 

Obern 

Woobun 

Wuborn 

Orbon 

Woobum 

Woolboum 

Oburin 

Wbren 

Woroben 

Oumbun 

WBun 

Wobunn 

Obburn 

Whe  Bren 

Woven 

Onbourn 

Wheorborn 

Oueeborn 

Whoban 

Orooburn 

Youbom 

13 


By  the  kindness  of  Miss  Clarabel  D.  Flinn,  the 
popular  clerk  at  the  Woburn,  Mass.,  Post-office,  I 
have  been  favored  with  a  list  of  the  various  ways  in 
w^hich  the  word  Woburn,  and  also  the  word  Massa- 
chusetts, have  been  spelled  on  letters  and  parcels  re- 
ceived at  that  office,  and  preserved  by  her.  This  list 
is  appended,  and  contains  107  different  ways  Woburn 
has  been  spelled,  and  Massachusetts  12  ways. 


Auburn 

Whoborn 

Wovebreon 

Auoburn 

Welen 

Wobuen 
Woboron 

Bobum 

Wrabrins 

Wobourin 

Woburn 

Womber 

Hobern 

Wobrey 

Worlion 

Hoben 

Worbin 

Wobyrus 

Wobrun 

Wobarn 

]\Iorbrean 

Wobon 

Womlen 

Mabburn 

Woebeyrne 

Wouben 

Mobern 

Woboen 

Woburen 

Woubern 

Worborn 

Naborn 

Woman 

Wowbyone 

Woutun 

Woeburen 

Obum 

Wobearin 

Woboyrn 

Oburon 

Woaburan 

Wooberurn 

Obearu 

Wofurn 

Wooping 

Oben 

Wooeburn 

Woughburn 

Obben 

Woobun 

Wobron 

Obewrn 

Woter 

Wobbom 

14 


Oborn 

Wourbourn 

Wobering 

Oobean 

Woborin 

Woberrn 

Ovvbourn 

Wobinn 

Wobeowern 

Wokers 

Woucliern 

Roburn 

Wobwrien 

Woorbie 

Wobourne 

Woeborn 

Thoburn 

Wobean 

Wobron 

Wooburning 

Wobuin 

Uban 

Woborne 

Wouben 

Wooburn 

Woodburne 

Wahern 

Worbun 

Woeaburn 

Waburs 

Woeburn 

Wodurra 

Whobon 

Woberne 

Whearwan 

Woborn 

Yoman 

Whoburn 

Wobborn 

Yobrun 

Whobourn 

Wofan 

Yeobourn 

Whobaii 

Wouban 

Youbourn 

Washburn 

Wohoburn 

Yoburn 

Wehoen 

Weyburn 
Wobur 

Yoborn 

The  name  of  the  town  in  England  from  which  we 
are  supposed  to  have  derived  the  name  is  spelled 
"  Woburn."  In  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  our  town 
it  is  spelled  ' '  Wooborne. ' '  iVt  Miss  Burges'  Academy, 
Woburn,  in  1805,  it  was  spelled  "  Woborn."  At  the 
present  time  it  is  spelled  "  Woburn."  By  the  public 
at  large  it  has  been  spelled  107  different  ways. 


16 


The  spellings  of  the  name  of  the  State  were  as 
follows : 

Massachusetts  Massatuces 

Massetuses  Massetutisces 

Massattuties  Massitutes 

Masscusses  Massetusion 

Massacute  Macisets 

Masstael  Maccufsin 


16 


Traditions,  Legends  and  History 

OF    Wo  BURN. 
"History  to  be  popular,  shouldbe  written  like  a  story." 


The  land  lay  in  its  native  loveliness, 

Untouched  b}'  white  man's  foot,  or  plough,  or  spade  ; 

The  Indian's  silent  moccasin  alone 

Pressed  Autumn's  leaves,  or  violet  banks  of  Spring, 

Save  only  where  the  panther's  stealthy  tread, 

Or  clumsy  step  of  bear  or  prowling  wolf. 

Were  heard  or  seen  amid  the  forest  glades. 

The  air,  sweet  Nature's  breath,  blew  through  the  pines, 

Strong  with  the  scent  of  rose,  swamp  pink  and  fern, 

And  kissed  the  dusky  cheek  of  Indian  belle. 

Who  dressed  her  coal  black  hair  with  native  grace, 

Beside  the  mirrored  surface  of  the  lake. 

While  her  bright  eye,  like  India's  regal  gem, 

Flashed  in  the  depths  of  water,  dropping  clear 

From  azure,  starlit  curtains  hung  in  space. 

Offerings  of  purity  from  Heaven  to  earth, 

Into  the  silver  bosom  of  the  lake. 

Kind  nature's  mirror  set  among  the  hills. 

All  this  had  been  for  ages  long  unknown, 

On  these  far  western  shores,  a  wilderness  ; 

The  curse  of  rum,  and  sordid  thirst  for  gold. 

Had  not  yet  touched  these  simple  savage  minds 

With  their  seductive  spells,  but  here  the}^  lived. 

Free  from  these  vices  which  afflict  a  white  man's  life. 


-     s 

Z       c 

D       I- 


H       -2 


17 


But  Nature's  laws  tend  to  a  higher  plane 
Than  savage  state  ;  the  earthy  shell  is  naught, 
Man's  greater  self  is  soul,  attuned  to  aims 
Immortal ;  e'en  the  Indians  felt  the  force 
Of  this  great  truth,  for  from  a  time  untold, 
Traditions  handed  down,  had  told  the  tale 
Of  how,  from  o'er  the  seas,  would  come  a  foe. 
Whose  greater  strength  would  sweep  them  from  the 

land. 
They  came  !    "those  iron  men,  of  virtues  stern, 
And  Christian  faith  ;  the  Mayflower's  booming  guns 
In  Plymouth  Harbor  tolled  the  red  man's  knell, 
And  woke  a  continent  to  higher  life," 


18 


The     Aboriginees. 

"First  they  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  then  upon 
the  Aboriginees." 

Bishop  John  Williams  of  Conn. 


HEN  our  forefathers   came   here,    this  land 

was   the   home   of   Indians.      Prince  calls 

'€^£K^      them  Aberginians.*       Late   investigations 

have  made  it  clear,  that  they  were  a  petty 


tribe  of  the  great  Abnaki  branch  of  the 
Algonkin  Nation,  whom,  their  traditions  say,  came 
from  the  west  after  their  defeat  by  the  Dakotas,  and 
spread  in  ancient  times,  quite  from  the  St.  John's 
River  on  the  East,  to  the  Connecticut  River  in  this 
State,  and  who  in  all  their  petty  tribes  had  speech 
and  traditions  alike. 

Their  language  was  Algonkin,  one  of  the  four 
radically  distinct  ones  in  fact,  then  spoken  by  North 
American  Indians  to  the  eastward  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, viz.:  The  Eskimo  north  of  the  Straits  of  Bellisle; 
The  Athabascan  south  to  the  St.  Lawrence  ;  The  Al- 
gonkin south  to  Cape  Hatteras,  and  westward  to  the 
Mississippi ;  the  Sioux  or  Dakota  farther  west.   These 

•  Queare,   should  not  the  word  be  spelled  Aberjonians,  and  was  not 
the  Aberjoua  River  so  named  after  them? 


19 


Indians  do  not  appear  to  have  been  warlike,  at  least 
the  settlers  of  our  town  did  not  have  to  fight  with 
them,  as  did  those  of  the  surrounding  towns  with 
other  tribes.  The  records  show  they  lounged  around, 
and  begged  for  '■ ' oncape' ^  and  what  they  could  not 
steal.  They  wore  deerskin  leggings,  moccasins  and 
robes.  Their  weapons  were  a  tomahawk  of  stone,  a 
long  powerful  bow,  usually  made  of  hornbeam,  arrows 
tipped  with  flint,  and  flint  hunting  knives.  They  had 
no  art  of  pottery,  but  used  shells  of  quahaug  and 
clams  to  eat  with,  and  stones  hollowed  out  for  cook- 
ing. Their  wigwams  were  poles  stuck  in  the  ground, 
and  covered  with  skins.  These  simple  hunters,  with 
their  cruder  weapons,  could  not  long  withstand  the 
higher  trained  white,  with  his  more  effective  warfare, 
and  greater  destiny,  consequently  they  dwindled 
away  before  his  advance,  till  the  poor  remnant  left, 
with  their  last  chief,  Hannah  Shiner,  made  their  final 
camp  and  disappeared  from  sight,  at  what  has  since 
been  know^n  as  "  Gardner's  Locks,"  on  the  Old  Mid- 
dlesex Canal,  at  present  Winchester. 

These  Indians  had  one  delicacy  peculiar  to  the 
land,  maize,  the  mythic  account  of  the  origin  of  which 
is  told  by  L^ongfellow  in  his  poem  of  Hiawatha.  Small 
fields  of  this  Indian  corn  among  the  woods,  in  clear- 
ings made  by  the  Squaws,  tossed  their  gay  tassels  in 
the  summer  breeze,  right  where  our  city  stands,  long 
before  the  white  man  came,  or  knew  the  sweetness  of 
a  hoe  cake,  Indian  bannock,  or  corn  pone.  The  red 
man  boiled  it  soft,  and  called  it  Sukquttahhash,  to 


20 


which  the  white  man  added  beans,  which  were  un- 
known to  the  natives,  then  shortened  the  name  to 
Succotash.  These  Indians  had  a  village  in  the 
shadow  of  Rag  Rock. 

CHURCHES. 

The  church  was  the  first  thing  thought  of  by  the 
settlers,  after  shelter  was  provided. 

All  peoples  recognize  with  reverence  a  Higher 
Power.  So  in  this  far  western  wilderness,  the  Indian 
and  the  Englishman  saw  and  acknowledged  God,  but 
in  a  different  way.  The  Indian  in  the  tempest's  roar 
and  flash  ;  the  Saxon  with  a  higher  cultured  mind. 
The  sweet  seclusion  of  untainted  woods,  called  all  to 
natural,  untrained  worship.  The  Red  Man  and  the 
Saxon  each  bowed  down  on  lowly  knee  before  their 
common  Maker,  in  Nature's  unbuilt  temple  'mong 
the  hills,  hung  with  unpainted  pictures,  made  by 
God,  of  landscape  framed  in  ledge,  on  mountain's 
side,  with  tints  beyond  an  earthly  artist's  skill. 

The  birds,  the  trees,  the  firmament  and  speaking 
brooks,  preached  sermons  which  all  races  understood. 
The  prayer  instinctively  went  up  from  all,  to  the 
great  source  above,  from  which  they  came.  The 
solemn  diapason  of  the  winds  played  sweeth"  Na- 
ture's music  to  all  alike,  and  which  all  without  study 
comprehended.  For  to  each  and  everj'^  one,  be  he  or 
she  of  savage  birth  or  not,  or  white  or  black,  or  to 
whatever  sect  or  creed  belongs,  there  comes  stealing 
o'er  the  soul,  the  sure  mind  hearing  words,  that  bind 


21 


tlie  finite  to  the  infinite,  and  give  assurance  of  future 
life.  So  all  instinctively  stretched  forth  their  arms  in 
utter  weakness  for  Jehovah's  aid. 

No  wonder,  'mid  such  scenes  as  these,  quite  free 
from  skeptic's  muddled  vision,  the  savage  worshiped 
Manitou  in  simple  untaught  way  ;  while  the  white 
man  in  his  lowly  church,  by  reason  trained,  and  rev- 
elations light,  saw  Deity  with  greater,  holier  view. 

THE   FIRST   MEETING   HOUSE. 

History  and  tradition  unite  in  saying,  that  The 
First  Church  or  Meeting  House  as  it  was  then  called, 
stood  *' in  a  small  plain  where  four  streets  meete.'^ 
These  streets  were  ' '  Hilly  Way  ' '  now  Montvale  Ave- 
nue, where  Dea.  Mousall  then  resided,  "South 
Street,"  now  Main  Street,  "Upstreet,"  now  Pleasant 
Street,  and  "  Military  Lane,"  which  then  ran  from 
"  Hilly  Way"  by  the  "Training  Field"  (now  the 
Common)  into  Upstreet,  this  last,  no  doubt,  being 
present  "  Common  Street,"  or  to  describe  the  location 
as  it  now  is,  a  very  little  east  of  the  present  band  stand, 
at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  the  Common,  then 
George  Bunker's  lot. 

The  colored  frontispiece  gives  an  accurate  repre- 
sentation in  its  general  features,  of  this  First  Temple 
of  God  in  the  wilderness,  which  was  built  in  1642  or 
later,  there  being  uncertainty  as  to  the  exact  time. 

It  was  no  doubt  constructed  of  timber  and  boards  ; 
the  corner  posts  were  probably  driven  into  the  ground 
and  made  with  rafters  inside. 


22 


The  roof,  without  reasonable  question,  was 
thatched,  like  that  of  the  first  church  in  Boston  be- 
fore it.  The  people  were  called  to  worship  in  that  old 
Meeting-House  by  a  bell  hung  on  Powder  House 
Hill,  then  called  "  Bell  Hill." 

There  were  no  pews  within,  only  rough  benches. 
The  previous  building  of  the  Converse  House  of  tim- 
ber and  boards  in  1640,  the  subsequent  erection  of 
the  Mousall  House  of  the  same  materials  later  in  the 
same  year,  the  fact  that  numbers  of  houses  then  in 
Charlestown,  were  built  of  lumber,  which  was  for  sale 
there,  and  the  additional  facts  that  Converse's  saw-mill 
was  then  going,  only  two  miles  away,  while  one  was 
in  operation  at  Menotomy,  now  Arlington,  five  miles 
off,  in  1637  ;  with  the  absence  of  any  evidence,  either 
by  records  or  tradition,  showing  the  existence  of  log 
houses  at  any  time  in  town,  warrant  the  assertion 
that  it  was  not  built  of  meaner  materials  than  the  pre- 
viously erected  dwellings  around  it.  By  reference  to 
the  plate,  the  parsonage  of  Rev.  Thomas  Carter  can 
be  seen  in  part  in  the  rear,  with  Mount  Mianomo  in 
the  distance  ;  which  building  is  said  to  be  now  a  part 
of  the  interior  of  the  present  Sylvanus  Wood  House. 

"We  can  at  this  late  date  go  back  in  mind,  and 
see  the  earnest  souls,  with  downcast  eyes,  and  book 
in  hand,  go  to  that  little  Meeting  House,  o'er  Mili- 
tary Way,  Up  Street  and  Hilly  Way  ;  while  now  and 
then  a  little  Red  Riding  Hood  may  be  imagined, 
going  through  forest  paths,  with  pot  of  beans,  or  In- 
dian suet  pudding,  to  some  one  in  need  of  help,  while 


.^1-^1'  b^     <.»>,    1^1  A 


bo 
c 


if) 


H 


23 


perchance,  a  greedy  wolf,  with  eager  eyes  and  gleam- 
ing teeth  displayed,  followed  her,  but  taught  by  past 
experience,  let  her  pass  in  peace. 

THE  SECOND   MEETING-HOUSE. 

On  November  20,  1671,  the  old  Meeting  House 
being  much  decayed,  the  town  voted  to  build  another. 
This  second  meeting-house  was  erected  in  1672  on 
the  Southwest  side  of  Meeting  House  Hill,  part  of  the 
way  down  from  the  top,  nearly  in  the  rear  of  the  north 
end  of  the  present  old  Leathe  house.  It  faced  south 
and  was  approached  by  a  winding  road,  leading  from 
Hilly  Way,  now  Montvale  Avenue.  This  second 
Meeting-hottse  v.'as  forty  feet  square,  its  frame  was  of 
oak,  its  roof  was  surmounted  by  a  small  cupola  or  tur- 
ret in  which  hung  a  bell,  the  windows  were  casements, 
that  is,  opened  in  the  middle  like  blinds.  The  lights 
of  glass  were  diamond  shaped  and  set  in  lead.  Gal- 
leries extended  all  around  inside,  with  one  upper  one 
for  the  negroes,  then  numerous  here.  Originally 
there  were  no  pews  for  the  people,  that  being  consid- 
ered too  aristocratic  a  privilege  to  accord  any  one,  so 
for  forty  years  only  two  were  permitted,  viz.:  the 
minister's  pew,  and  one  for  the  deacons'  wives,  the 
deacons  themselves,  and  the  sexton  having  seats  of 
their  own;  but  in  1713,  Col.  Jonathan  Tyng,  a  very 
distinguished  man,  who  married  the  daughter  of  Rev. 
Jabez  Fox,  and  came  here  to  reside,  was  given  leave 
to   erect   one,  these  three  being  the  only  permanent 


24 


ones  ever  permitted  in  the  clmrch.  The  seats  for  the 
people  were  low  backed  settles.  Several  stables  each 
nine  feet  square,  stood  south  of  the  church,  also  a 
horse  block.  On  the  pulpit  was  a  cushion  and  an 
hour  glass  to  warn  the  minister  when  to  stop,  but  no 
Bible,  that  being,  from  prejudice,  the  custom.  In  front, 
outside,  was  a  Sun  dial,  to  tell  when  to  ring  the  bell. 
The  sexes  were  seated  separately  ;  the  men  on 
the  east,  the  women  on  the  west  side.  Twenty-six 
men,  two  at  a  time,  looked  out  for  bad  boys.  Nine 
tithingmen  looked  out  for  the  rest.  The  girls  often, 
to  save  their  nice  shoes  and  stockings,  came  bare- 
footed, and  stopped  for  a  moment  near  the  church  to 
put  them  on.  This  church  cost  about  334  English 
pounds.  A  mental  picture,  traditionally  drawn,  will 
show  the  minister  in  the  pulpit,  the  deacons  in  their 
places,  their  wives  in  the  deacon's  pews,  the  sexton  in 
his  seat  near  the  parson,  the  tithingmen  rapping  the 
boys  with  the  ends  of  their  long  staves,  the  men,  the 
prose  of  life,  on  one  side,  their  wives,  and  maidens 
prim,  the  living  poetry  of  creation,  sweet  of  speech 
and  look,  dressed  in  bombazine  or  calico,  with  plain 
poke  bonnets  and  white  handkerchiefs  tied  neatly 
round  their  necks,  on  the  other,  the  men  in  knee 
breeches,  cocked  hats  and  queues,  with  coats  and  vests 
of  quakerish  cut  and  length,  all  kneeling  at  prayers, 
with  faith  beyond  a  doubt ;  while  many  of  these  had 
walked  even  five  miles,  ofttimes  through  heavy  drifts 
to  a  cold  church,  without  a  flinch  or  fail,  year  after 
year ;  that  was  true  religious  zeal,  before  whose  fire. 


25 


our  modern  worship  seems  quite  spiritless.  These 
were  the  men  and  women,  who,  when  the  box  was 
passed,  which  was  a  silk  bag  at  the  end  of  a  pole,  with 
bell  attached,  to  wake  the  sleepers  up  in  time,  and 
tinkle  sweetly  while  the  money  dropped,  put  in  with- 
out reserve,  their  hard  earned  cash,  to  help  the  cause 
which  all  then  had  earnestly  at  heart.  They  were 
meek  children  before  their  Maker,  but  stern  and  reso- 
lute before  their  foes. 

The  plate  gives  a  correct  representation  of  this, 
the  Second  Aleeting  House  and  its  surroundings. 

THE  THIRD  MEETING  HOUSE. 

In  1748  the  Third  Meeting  House  was  raised. 

This  one  stood  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  Common 
close  up  to  present  Main  Street,  then  South  Street, 
•the  hill  at  that  time  coming  somewhat  down  onto  the 
street ;  it  had  pews  for  all,  and  was  the  last  where  all 
worshiped,  as  the  people  soon  after  broke  up  into  dif- 
ferent sects. 

PENALTIES  AND  PUNISHMENTS. 

Of&cials  had  to  attend  to  business  promptly,  or 
pay  a  fine. 

A  Selectman  was  required  to  pay  three  shillings, 
if  he  was  absent  or  tardy,  unless  it  was  by  providence 
of  God. 

Capt.  John  Carter  was  fined  sixpence  for  being 
''one  tyme  nere  an  hour  to  late.^^ 


26 


Francis  Kendall,  another  one  who  lagged,  con- 
tributed a  second  sixpence  fine,  to  make  up  for  lost 
time.  Others  helped  out  the  finances  in  a  similar 
manner. 

"Now  ye  be  late,  ye  took  the  time, 
As  "tynie  is  raonie,"  pay  j^our  fine." 

Old  Song. 

Citizens  had  to  "catch  it"  as  well.  If  any  one 
failed  to  attend  town  meetings,  or  wasted  time  in  bad 
or  senseless  talk  while  there,  or  in  fooling  away  the 
time,  a  fine  was  sure  to  follow.  This  bit  of  practical 
philosophy  would  be  a  good  thing  today,  to  stop  silly 
speeches  made  for  pure  politics  and  nothing  else. 

Offenders  had  to  "mind  their  eye,"  or  they'd  get 
a  dose  relentlessly  dealt  out.  Tradition  says,  that  on 
the  "Training  Field,"  at  the  northeast  end  of  the 
"Common"  as  it  now  is,  there  was  a  "Whipping 
Post,"  where  now  and  then  some  degenerate  son  of 
evil  ways  was  soundly  trounced,  to  make  him  good 
and  smart ;  while  nearer  to  the  third  Meeting  House, 
a  Pillory,  like  a  huge  cage,  loomed  up  to  frighten  all 
who  dared  to  take  too  much  ' '  blackstrap ' '  or  violated 
the  laws  of  mejim  and  tinim.  The  way  of  the  trans- 
gressor was  hard,  indeed,  for  all  such  were  exhibited 
therein,  as  drunkards,  thieves  or  whatnot,  for  several 
hours,  with  a  sign  in  front  setting  forth  their  enormi- 
ties, while  the  boys  jeered,  and  sometimes  spattered 
them  with  mud  ;  then  lettered  with  a  D,  as  they  went 
out ;  while  if  they  got  in  that  old  cage  again,  they 
were  labeled  "  C.  /?."  and  soundly  whipt. 


27 


If  that  old  post  was  now  in  place, 
And  cage  to  frighten  all, 
The  D's  and  C.  D's  would  leave  town, 
Or  loud  lor  mercy  bawl. 

Sometimes  a  common  drunkard  had  a  ''Red  Cloth 
Z>"  hung  round  his  neck,  or  pinned  to  his  clothing, 
and  his  right  to  vote  was  taken  away  for  a  time,  "  Be 
they  white  men,  Indians  or  their  squaws." 

The  Selectmen  appeared  to  be  a  court  of  law  and 
equity  with  general  powers,  who  punished  all  that  did 
a  naughty  deed  of  any  sort,  oppression,  drunkenness, 
charging  too  much  for  wages  or  work,  or  as  it  would 
seem,  for  what  they  thought  was  wrong  ;  while  on  the 
other  hand,  they  eased  the  poor,  by  taking  oflf  their 
taxes  for  the  year,  or  lending  cows  belonging  to  the 
town,  free  from  rent,  to  widows  in  distress,  furnishing 
as  well,  whatever  was  lacking,  being  in  very  truth, 
the  "Fathers  of  the  Town." 

"  They  helped  the  good,  punished  the  sinner, 
And  to  the  poor  sent  many  a  dinner." 

But  one  thing  seems  to  us  strange,  that  while 
they  set  the  drunkard  in  the  pillory,  or  fined,  or  whipt 
ten  lashes  for  a  drunk ;  at  the  same  time,  they  raised 
their  churches  with  rum,  and  treated  parsons,  visitors, 
doctors  when  they  called,  out  of  decanters  kept  for 
the  express  purpose,  while  all  these  men  were  ready 
for  a  drink ;  and  v/hen  they  died,  buried  them  with 
rum,  gin,  brandy,  drank  before  and  after  going  to  the 
grave,  according  to  their  several  ranks,  while  the 
town  often  paid  the  bills. 


28 

TAVERNS, 

In  1653,  the  Count}^  Court  granted  the  first 
license  to  keep  a  house  of  ''Como?i  Enterteinvient^^  at 
Woburn.  This  license  was  granted  to  John  Seir 
(Sears),  but  the  location  of  the  tavern  is  unknown. 

Joseph  Carter  was  licensed  in  1671.  Samuel 
Walker,  the  third,  in  1674.  In  1683,  Walker  kept 
the  "Ark"  on  Main  street,  opposite  the  "Reading 
Road."  This  ancient  inn  was  built  in  1674,  and 
taken  down  in  1828,  but  the  sign  remained  swinging 
for  a  long  time  after.  On  April  16,  1662,  Walker 
was  granted  the  first  license  in  Woburn,  to  ''still 
strong  waters  and  relate  the  same,'"  but  soon  after  he 
was  fined  for  selling  to  a  drunkard. 

On  the  same  day  John  Seir,  and  others,  were 
licensed  to  keep  houses  of  comon  enterteinment ,  and 
also  to  sell  wine,  but  were  prohibited  retalei?ig  strong 
waters.  As  others  were  known  to  sell  without  license, 
general  laws  in  the  state  were  passed  by  which  any 
person  might  search  for  and  seize  intoxicating  liquors, 
and  if  proved  they  were  intended  for  illegal  sale,  the 
seizor  for  his  trouble,  should  have  one  half,  which 
were  the  first  seizure  laws  passed  in  this  state. 

The  old  topers  would  often  get  trusted  for  a  pint 
or  quart,  so  their  scores  were  "marked  up"  in  two 
columns,  with  chalk,  on  the  inside  of  the  closet  or 
cellar  door,  each  column  headed  P.  or  Q.;  this  was 
the  way  the  old  saying  of  mind  your  Ps  and  Qs  came, 
which  exists  today. 


29 


In  those  times  they  drank  out  of  peT\i;er  tankards 
which  sat  on  the  bar,  and  were  kept  '■'sinned  up.'' 
Beside  these  tankards  was  a  sugar  bowl  and  a  wooden 
toddy  stick  to  stir  with.  These  bars  always  had  a 
railing,  and  therein  were  sold  whipsticks  to  the  farm- 
ers to  drive  oxen  with.  These  sticks  had  a  ^<?a</ at 
the  end,  and  a  plaited,  knotted  \d.sh.  gatcged  on,  while 
the  loud  ''Gee  up  !  Gee  up  !  Gee!  Haw  !  "  constantly 
repeated,  could  be  heard  a  mile,  especially  after  a 
drink  at  The  Ark,  or  Marshall  Fowle's  Tavern. 

All  the  taverns  and  grocer}^  stores  kept  liquors 
for  sale,  and  all  people  as  a  common  custom,  drank 
more  or  less  dail5^ 

Fowle's  Tavern  above  named,  was  a  noted  place. 
This  old  Hostelry  is  described  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume ;  so  also  is  Wood's  Tavern.  Parker's  Tavern  at 
"Hawker  Square,"  was  the  Stage  House,  where  most 
of  the  Boston  and  Lowell  coaches  changed  horses;  it 
is  fully  described  in  the  first  volume  of  these  legends. 
Other  taverns  were  Flagg's  at  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Salem  Streets,  Tidd's  at  North  Woburn,  and  Tay's 
above  it,  where  the  boatmen  on  the  Middlesex  Canal 
made  their  headquarters.  Black  Horse  Tavern  at 
South  Woburn.     The  Brick  House  at  Central  Square. 

SCHOOLS. 

Up  to  1673  all  the  Schools  were  private,  but  in 
that  year  the  town,  for  the  first  time,  hired  teachers. 
These  were  Allen  Conuars'  wife  and  Joseph  Wright's. 


30 


The  price  paid  was  ten  shillings  for  the  year,  one  half 
to  each,  but  even  at  that,  these  teachers  furnished 
rooms  in  their  houses. 

In  1685,  the  town  having  one  hundred  families, 
was  compelled  by  law  to  have  a  Grammar  School,  and 
Thomas  Carter  was  engaged  as  master.  The  teacher 
stood  with  birch  and  book,  but  no  scholars  came,  al- 
though he  got  five  good  English  pounds  for  doing 
nothing,  while  by  it  the  town  saved  being  fined. 

The  next  3'ear  a  sharper  bargain  was  made  with 
him;  this  was,  "that  the  teacher  should  have  five 
pounds  if  scholars  came,  or  thirty  shillings  if  they 
kept  away; ' '  as  they  again  were  ' '  non-est-inventus , ' ' 
Carter  pocketed  only  the  smaller  sum. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  it  was  so.  The  schoohnarm 
schools  furnished  all  the  teaching  the  people  had  time 
for,  so  law  was  in  advance  of  public  needs.  Even  as 
late  as  1830  or  1835  these  schools  flourished  well, 
while  among  the  branches  then  taught,  were  sewing 
and  knitting  ;  these,  the  boys  learned  as  well  as  the 
girls.  In  those  daj'^s  of  earl)^  schools  the  branches 
taught  were  only  those  which  stern  necessity  required, 
for  life  did  not  admit  of  higher  flights. 

"  Let  all  ye  foreign  tongues  alone, 

Till  you  can  read  and  spell  your  own." 

But  results  showed  that  in  these  little  schools  the 
three  R  lore  was  taught  by  aid  of  birch  and  ferule's 
mighty  power,  with  such  persistent  force,  that  e'en 
the  dunce  retained  the  deep  drilled  principles  through 


31 


life  ;   while  records  and  old  writings  prove  the  skill 
the  adepts  gained  in  the  use  of  mental  tools. 

It  was  not  till  1700  that  the  first  place  for  a  school 
was  furnished  by  the  town.  This  place  was  in  the 
house  of  George  Reed,  Jr.,  ";zz^/i  the  meeting-house," 
rent  twenty  shillings  ;  but  it  was  not  till  17 13  that  the 
first  schoolhouse  was  built,  and  even  then  by  private 
subscription,  on  the  lot  where  the  Unitarian  church 
now  stands,  corner  of  Winn  and  Pleasant  streets. 
This  last  was  the  only  one  till  1760. 

The  old  time  plan  of  choosing  sides  in  spelling, 
arithmetic,  geography,  debating,  etc.,  brought  out  re- 
sults, if  not  ornamental,  certainly  highly  practical,  and 
adapted  to  the  hard  rubs  of  life. 

The  little  ' '  Red  School  House, ' '  like  those  which 
stood  at  the  corner  ot  Main  and  Church  streets  ;  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Franklin  streets  ;  on  Montvale 
avenue,  where  the  hose  house  now  is,  were  bulwarks 
against  the  results  of  ignorance  ;  thej'  forged  and  fur- 
nished the  mental  tools  by  which  many  a  hard  battle 
for  the  good  and  right,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  tow^n 
has  been  won. 

These  little  ' '  Intelligence  Ofl&ces ' '  have  disap- 
peared, to  give  place  to  statel}^  "  Palaces  of  Instruc- 
tion ;"  the  birch  and  ferule  to  lashing  the  mind  v^nth 
the  tongue  ;  the  iron  chains  of  despotism  to  the  silken 
cords  of  love  ;  and  j'et  the  practical,  every  day  weap- 
ons with  which  the  field  is  won,  were  obtained  from 
those  small  armories,  quite  as  well  as  from  the  more 
pretentious   manufactories   of  todaj- ;  bare   knuckles 


32 


have  given  way  to  the  gloved  hand;  and  hard  train- 
ing in  a  few  needed  branches  to  an  extended  curricu- 
lum, with  perhaps  more  injury  to  the  physical  powers 
than  before. 

.     SALE  OF  A  WIFE. 

"  Man  was  made  when  Nature  was 

But  an  apprentice,  but  woman  when  she 
Was  a  skilful  mistress  of  her  art." 

Cupid's  Whirligig,  1607. 

"  Auld  Nature  swears,  the  lovely  dears 
Her  noblest  work  she  classes,  O  ; 
Her  'prentice  han'  she  tried  on  man. 
And  then  she  made  the  lasses,  O  !  " 

Burns. 

In  1789  the  market  value  of  a  fine  wife  was  first 
decided  in  Woburn,  by  an  actual  sale  ;  Simeon  Reed 
then  sold  his  wife  to  James  Butters  of  Wilmington,  for 
a  yoke  of  oxen,  valued  at  the  sum  of  forty  Spanish 
milled  dollars ;  and  sometime  after  that,  Butters 
naively  said,  he  "gained  a  hundred  dollars  by  the 
trade,"  while  Reed  could  never  get  another  one,  for 
fear  of  being  sold  like  the  first.  So  the  value  of  a  good 
wife  then,  was  just  one  hundred  and  forty  dollars. 
This  strange  bargain  was  made  and  carried  out  by  the 
parties  interested,  without  interference  by  any  one  ;  so 
thereafter  they  lived  together. 

But  now  a  wife  is  rated  beyond  price,  bej'ond  a 
value  like  an  ox  or  slave.  She's  risen  from  the 
depths  ;  her  worth  is  known,  for  mind  at  last  has  tri- 


33 


umphed  over  sex ;  she  wills  it,  and  her  clubs  spring 
up  around ;  she  speaks  with  power,  and  sways  with 
silver  tongue,  as  Peeress  rightly  should,  her  former 
lords,  who  listen  with  attention  to  her  words  ;  she 
takes  her  place  in  lecture  room  and  hall,  at  courts, 
in  pulpits,  e'en  in  business  marts,  in  equal  honor  with 
her  manl}^  peers ;  and  none  can  long  withstand  her 
firm  assault  against  the  last  barrier  to  her  progress, 
"The  right  to  vote  ;"  when  that  last  point  is  gained, 
she  stands,  her  shackles  o£f,  burst  by  her  power,  in 
honest  pride,  beside  her  equal,  man,  no  more  her  lord 
but  glad  to  be  her  mate,  and  fights  life's  battles  firmly 
by  her  side,  with  weapons  which  before  were  his 
alone. 

A  LEGEND  OF  STEP  ROCK. 

The  story  goes,  that  once  on  a  time,  the  Devil, 
the  great  Chief  of  Police  of  Creation,  in  pursuit  of 
some  very  high  offender,  jumped  from  Step  Rock  in 
Saugus  near  the  road,  to  Step  Rock  in  North  Woburn 
near  the  brook  by  the  Merrimac  Chemical  Works, 
from  there  to  Mount  Mianomo,  and  thence  to  Mount 
Towanda,  where  he  made  his  final  spring,  having  his 
guilty  captive  in  his  grasp,  leaving  wherever  he 
stepped,  his  foot  mark  big  to  prove, 

That  Satan  came  to  town  one  day. 

But  could  not  stay 

Because  'twas  winter  time  ; 

Had  it  been  summer, 

Many  a  bummer. 

Could  not  got  out  of  his  way  in  time. 


34 

THE  SURVIVAL  OF  THE  FITTEST. 

The  Settlers  of  our  town  were  sturdy  stock,  they'd 
break  before  they'd  bend,  and  fight  till  death  before 
they'd  give  an  inch  or  run.  The  babies  showed  the 
grit  their  parents  had.  In  winter  time  these  tender 
little  things  slept  cuddled  up  in  an  ice  cold  chamber, 
sometimes  with  snow^  upon  the  bed  at  dawn,  and  then 
were  dressed  before  a  fire  so  hot,  that  their  little  toes 
were  nearly  blistered,  while  just  back  of  the  settle 
where  they  sat,  'twas  almost  chill  enough  to  freeze 
their  backs,  and  yet  they  seldom  whimpered  with  the 
cold.  When  Sunday  came,  according  to  custom, 
these  week  old  shivering  babes  were  taken  to  a  church 
without  a  fire,  to  be  baptised,  then  carried  home,  per- 
haps through  zero  air,  to  freeze  and  thaw,  till  Spring 
gave  them  relief.  Judge  Sewall  was  very  strict  on 
this  point,  and  of  fourteen  children,  lost  eleven  young; 
while  Cotton  Mather,  equally  severe,  saved  only  two 
out  of  fifteen. 

This  rough  New  England  life  left  only  those 
alive,  who  from  their  build,  were  strong  enough  to 
stand  such  treatment;  the  weaker  died,  the  fittest  ones 
survived,  perhaps  the  toughness  of  our  people  now, 
came  from  this  old  selection  of  the  best. 

And  then  'tis  awful  in  these  modern  times,  to 
think  how  these  and  older  ones  were  dosed ;  'tis 
strange  indeed,  how  they  survived  at  all,  for  salts  and 
senna,  ipecac,  wnth  Snayles  to  make  snail  water  to  be 
used  for  fits,  or  almost  anything  the  patient  had,  with 


35 


nauseous  nostrums,  made  of  vilest  things,  painting 
with  poisons  as  3'ou'd  paint  a  house,  and  bleeding, 
till  their  veins  were  nearly  empty,  made  fearful  inroads 
on  the  patient's  frame.  A  mineral  oyntment,  made,  oh 
horrors !  of  quicksilver,  verdigris  and  brimstone, 
mixed  with  ''  barrows  grease''  the  receipt  said,  was 
good  for  horse  or  man,  or  other  beast.  Alum,  coppe- 
ras, and  bayberry  wax,  with  skunk  grease,  three 
years'  old,  made  into  a  paste,  was  a  sovereign  cure 
for  all  rheumatics,  but  whether  the  skunk,  or  the 
grease,  was  to  be  just  three  years'  old  ;  or  whether 
the  remedy  was  made  for  in  or  out,  or  both,  cannot  at 
this  late  day  be  told,  for  happily  all  this  is  now  a  lost 
art. 

Daffy's  elixir,  minerals  for  worms,  rank  poisons, 
arsenic,  calomel,  and  others,  which  killed  the  blood, 
and  made  the  teeth  drop  out,  blisters  of  cantharides, 
poultices  made  of  worms,  with  opium  in  its  various 
forms,  ail  conspired  to  kill  them,  if  they  could  be 
killed.  Wolfs'  fangs  or  rattles  of  the  rattlesnake,  were 
hung  in  strings  around  the  infant's  neck,  to  make  the 
teeth  come  quick,  and  stop  the  pain  ;  or  rabbits'  braynes 
boy  led  soft,  and  mixed  with  snayles,  to  anoynt  the  gums 
and  keep  the  swelling  down.  A  frog  held  in  the 
mouth  was  good  for  quinsy.  A  toad  squeezed  up  was 
fine  for  sweaty  hands.  A  small  bone  of  a  sheep,  in 
the  pocket,  kept  off  the  rheumatism.  So  did  a  horse 
chestnut  constantly  carried  about.  A  fever  patient 
could  have  no  water,  though  he  was  dying  for  want 
of  it.     Nature  called  for  some  things  to  help  her  win. 


36 


but  these,  her  best  weapons  sternly  were  denied  her, 
and  so,  at  last  the  sufferer  had  to  die.  Now  and  then 
a  little  more  sense  was  displayed  ;  Dr.  Kittredge  used 
to  ride  in  a  Sulky,  and  whistled  away,  while  he  diag- 
nosed. His  fever  patients  had  water,  and  got  well. 
He  was  keen  and  ver}^  practical,  "  Let  me  see  your 
tongue  ?  ah-ha  !  tut,  tut !  I  see,  been  a  fool,  bilious, 
eat  too  much,  yellow,  jaundery,  here,  take  a  few  of 
these  pills,  and  some  of  these  powders,  stop  eating, 
and  you'll  feel  better,  when  you  get  well. ' '  The  doctors 
find  many  such  cases  now-a-days. 

Indeed  the  "  art  of  curing  till  they  died,"  had 
reached  to  such  an  awful  killing  pitch,  that  Dr. Smith 
with  honest  soul  exclaimed, 

"  And  when  I  must  resign  va.y  breath. 
Pray  let  me  die  a  natural  death, 
And  bid  you  all  a  long  farewell. 
Without  one  dose  of  calomel." 

While  another  advised  his  brethren  thus. 

■'  Don't  draw  life's  current  from  the  veins. 
Don't  taint  with  poison  what  remains, 
I^eave  Nature  with  her  weapons  strong, 
To  fight  the  fight,  she's  fought  so  long. 

For  she  her  fortress  best  defends, 
With  means  adapted  to  such  ends ; 
Your  pills  and  powders  harm  may  do, 
Instead  of  conquering  the  foe. 

So  when  disease  with  deadly  might. 
Makes  Nature  tremble  in  the  fight. 
Help  her  with  caution  when  you  may, 
But  keep  5-our  pois'nous  drugs  away. 


37 


But  now-a-daj'S,  Nature  is  allowed  to  have  her 
way,  so  patients  are  excused  from  being  killed,  for 
doctors  dose  with  safer  things,  and  help  her  to  win 
the  battle. 

OlyD  MAIDS  AND  OIvD  BACHEIvORS. 

To  be  an  old  maid  or  old  bachelor  was*  the  worst 
fate  that  could  befal  one  then.     It  amounted  to  social 
ostracism.     How  could  she  do  without  a  housekeeper 
or  how  could  he  without  a  housekeepess,  and  in  such 
case,  neither  was  allowed,  for  in  some  places,  where 
the  rule  was  strict,  they  even  could  not  live  just  where 
they  pleased,  but  had  their  locations  assigned  them 
by  the  Court,  like  criminals  let  out  on  probation,  who 
needed  watching  till  they  got  a  mate,   sometimes  in 
Bachelors  or  Old  Maid's  Row,  when  they  were  nunier- 
oits  or  very   bad.     And  then  again,  in  some   places, 
these  "  Lone  Men  "  paid  a   tax  for  the  misery  of  liv- 
ing single,  while  luckily  the  girls  escaped  the  dose. 
These  being  ''  suspected  ones,''  all  watchmen,  tithing- 
men  and  constables  had  "  close  watch  "  to  see  these 
* '  sneaking   ones  ' '    did   do  no  wrong  ;    so    those  who 
lived  in  "  Lone  Man's  Row,"  close  peeped  at  those  in 
''Old   Maid's  Lane;"  while    ''Old  Maid  Laners" 
watched   their  chance,    to   fire   their    "  Sheeps   Eye 
Darts"  across  the  street,  at  those  so  willing,  anxious 
to  be  caught,  and  thus  escape  their  hated  social  bonds. 
So  such  made  short  work  of  courting  then,  and  liberty 
regained  by  getting  tied,  together  with  a  lot  to  build 


38 


upon,  which  some  towns  gave  to  such  repentant  souls  : 
afterwards  they  were  let  alone  to  live  in  peace.  So 
widows  and  widowers,  old  maids  and  bachelors,  were 
scarce  those  days. 

COURTING  AND  THE  COURTING  STICK. 

Courting  among  the  young  was  closely  guarded 
in  old  times  ;  the  fire  place  was  very  wide,  too  wide 
indeed,  for  they  were  not  allowed  to  get  very  close,  so 
each  one  took  a  side,  eight  to  ten  feet  apart,  or  on  op- 
posite sides  of  a  table,  while  in  between  the  family  sat 
prim  as  owls.  The  Courters  could  not  speak  unless 
all  heard  ;  so  looks  of  love  supplied  the  tongue  of 
flame,  while  strict  at  nine,  he  had  to  go  away.  And 
it  was  even  said,  that  once  on  a  time,  two  lovers  were 
caught  sitting  side  by  side  alone,  "'hee  haveing  his  arm 
around  her  wayste,  and  shee,  oh  shame,  had  hers  about 
his  neck -j'^  while  still  more  horrible  it  is  to  say,  the 
witnesses  peeped  through  a  crack,  and  saw  for  sure, 
they  really  kist  each  other  once  at  least,  a  real  smack, 
and  also  "  heard  the  noyse^  "  He  kist  ye  may  den  once 
and  she  kist  him,''  for  which  the  lovers  admonished 
were  that  very  day,  and  told  to  do  such  wicked  things 
no  more. 

But  "  lyove's  young  dream"  bursts  all  such  bonds 
as  these,  and  so  at  last  a  remedy  was  found  ;  a  tele- 
phonic "Courting  Stick"  was  made,  a  hollow  tube, 
one  inch  in  size,  and  several  feet  in  length,  and  placed 
across   the  fire  place  huge,  or  over  the  table,  while 


CO 


o 

CD 


39 


speaking,  having  ear  and  talking  cups,  to  give  ''  Le 
Grande  Passion'^  proper  vent. 

' '  So  while  the  rest  could  see  the  sight 
They  could  not  hear  the  sound." 

And  thus,  though  guarded,  were  unguarded  still, 
till  disregarded  soon,  the  airy  loving  darts,  flew  thick 
and  fast  through  Cupid's  telephone,  while  later  still, 
the  stick  itself  was  dropped,  and  lovers  face  to  face, 
left  all  alone,  told  the  old  story  o'er  and  o'er  again, 
sometimes  till  one  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

When  the  marriage  took  place,  and  couple  left, 
the  people  for  good  luck,  cast  rice  at  them,  or  an  old 
shoe  for  married  happiness  ;  while  the  bride  herself, 
her  garter  backward  threw,  for  all  the  girls  to  scram- 
ble for,  for  luck,  the  lucky  one  'twas  said,  who  picked 
it  up,  would  be  the  next  to  get  a  husband  too. 

Single  may  dens  ' '  not  disposed  of, ' '  sternly  were 
enjoyned,  "  7iot  to  keep  their  house  alone  ;"  so  all  such, 
"withering  on  the  virgin  thorn,"  were  hard  to  find, 
for  of  these  it  was  said,  "  That  women  dying  maids, 
lead  apes  in  hell."  A  woman  twenty -five  years  old, 
was  called  "'An  Antient  Maid,''  at  thirty  "  Thorn- 
back.'"  Anj^  man  who  ''made  motion  of  marriage'' 
without  first  obtaining  "  formal  consent,"  was  pun- 
ished for  such  crime,  by  fine,  or  whipping,  as  the 
Court  should  think  meet ;  while  if  either  one,  whether 
man  or  maid,  backed  out,  the  jilted  one  could  recover 
by  law,  so  much  an  hour,  for  his  great  misery,  in 
•working  so  hard,  trying  to  get  a  mate  ;  as  if  courting 


40 


was  not  delicious  work,  which  more  than  paid  for  it- 
self;  but  a  tough  job,  which  one  had  to  go  through, 
and  quit  at  once,  as  soon  as  the  knot  was  tied,  which 
happily  is  not  the  case  today. 

The  wedding  banns  were  read  three  times  in 
church  at  service,  or  in  town  meeting  or  lecture,  and 
stuck  up  on  the  door,  or  public  notice  post,  after 
which  the  Governor  or  Magistrate,  but  not  the  Parson 
in  earliest  times,  could  tie  the  nuptial  knot. 

AMPHIDROMIA. 

Before  a  child  was  born,  *^groa?nng  beer''  was 
brewed,  and  ' '  groanifig  cake  ' '  was  made  for  instant 
use,  so  that  the  mother,  midwife,  nurse  and  all  (for 
midwife  was  doctor  in  those  days,)  could  qtiickly  and 
conveniently  be  fed. 

The  first  celebration  of  a  child's  birth  was  within 
a  week  after  it  was  born.  At  this  New  England  Am- 
phidromia,  the  midwife,  nurse  and  female  neighbors 
sat  to  dine  on  rost  beef,  Pyes,  and  groaning  beer  and 
cake  ;  but  no  man  was  admitted  to  the  feast,  not  even 
the  father  dared  to  show  his  head. 

One  dad^  it  is  related,  climbed  a  tree,  while  this 
Amazonic  feast  was  going  on,  and  read  that  cheerful 
book,  "  Calvin  on  Psalms,"  as  he  sat,  picked  and  ate 
only  cherries,  all  by  himself,  at  his  son's  genital 
meal ;  while  another  lonesome  papa  was  allowed  by 
special  grace,  to  have  his  "  little  spread  "  in  a  corner 
alone,  near  the  greater  show,  held  by  the  ladies,   for 


41 


tliis  great  event,   this  Amphidromic  rite,  copied  from 
ancient  times. 

FUNKRAI.S. 

Funerals  were  plain,  solemn  affairs,  instead  of 
vain  ostentatiaus  parades,  as  now,  where  show  more 
than  sorrow  is  manifest,  with  their  twenty  coaches 
and  splendid  caskets,  as  all  see  them  at  the  present 
day. 

The  coffin  was  made  of  plain  white  pine  boards, 
checked  with  a  saw  inside,  at  the  shoulders,  to  give 
proper  shape,  unlined,  and  stained  with  red,  costing 
about  three  dollars.  It  was  carried  on  a  hand  bier, 
by  six  bearers,  four  at  a  time,  who  relieved  each  other 
often  if  the  way  was  long  ;  or  when  the  ^ ' grave  yard' ^ 
was  at  a  long  distance,  a  cart  was  often  used. 

All  the  mourners  walked  in  couples  behind. 
When  a  person  died,  even  in  the  night,  the  people 
told  the  sexton,  and  the  sexton  tolled  the  bell.  He 
struck  it  quick,  ' '  one  three  "  for  a  child,  '  'two  threes' ' 
for  a  woman,  and  "  three  threes  "  for  a  man,  that  all 
might  guess  who  it  was,  then  paused,  after  which 
he  slowly  struck  the  bell  one  stroke  for  each  year  he 
had  lived. 

The  minister  usually  walked  at  the  head,  book  in 
hand,  and  read  services  at  the  grave. 

At  the  funeral,  ^''strong  waters ^^  were  drank, 
rum,  blackstrap,  hard  cider,  metheglin,  home  brewed 
beer,  while  at  return,  another  ''nipper''  was  taken  ; 
even  the  Parson  had  some  with  the  rest. 


42 


At  a  later  date  the  coffins  were  stained  black, 
which  was  much  objected  to  at  first,  and  Charley 
Wright,  a  half  witted  pauper,  begged  that  they  would 
not  put  him  in  a  black  one,  for  fear  "it  w^ould  make 
him  sick  at  his  stomach." 

The  grave  stones  all  v/ere  made  of  slate  and  had 
a  skull  and  cross  bones  cut  on  the  face,  with  often 
some  lugubrious  quotation,  like  "  Memento  mori," 
or, 

"  As  I  now  am,  so  you  must  be. 
Therefore  prepare  to  follow  me," 

chiseled  on  below.  The  stones  for  a  long  time  were 
brought  from  England,  and  were  as  gloomy  affairs  as 
possibly  could  be  without  one  ray  of  hope  or  relief 
thereon. 

ANCIENT  BUILDINGS. 

In  early  colonial  days,  the  houses  were  of  the 
mother  country  patterns.  The  so  called  "Garrison 
House,"  like  the  "  Old  Converse  Domicil  "  on  Salem 
Street,  the  Burbeen  Mansion  on  Main  Street,  and  the 
Simonds  House  at  the  West  Side,  were  fair  specimens 
of  one  type  ;  hundreds  of  such,  very  old,  can  now  be 
seen  scattered  all  over  England.  They  were  not,  as 
popularly  supposed,  made  with  a  projecting  upper 
stor}^  for  the  purpose  of  defense  against  the  Indians, 
in  fact,  the  projection  could  not  be  used  for  such  a 
purpose,  as  the  guns  then  made  were  all   flint  locks. 


43 


and  as  the\'  would  have  to  be  pointed  downward  in 
firing,  the  priming,  when  the  pan  flev/open,  would  be 
spilled  before  it  was  ignited,  and  besides,  none  of 
these  overhangs  had  holes  in  them,  but  were  built  sol- 
id, being  simply  a  past  of  the  architecture  of  such 
style  of  dwelling  house. 

Another  pattern  was  the  ' '  Hip  Roof, ' '  like  the 
"Rumford  House"  at  North  Woburn,  the  "Mousall 
House,"  on  Hilly  Way,  the  "Flagg  House"  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Salem  Streets,  and  the  "Old  Saw- 
yer House"  opposite.  These  were  very  common  in 
old  England  and  popular  here.  The  stately  Colonial 
Mansion  was  another  fashion.  The  Baldwin  at  North 
Woburn,  built  in  1661,  the  Blodgett  House  opposite, 
the  Brick  Tavern  (Clapp  House)  and  Black  Horse 
Tavern  are  fine  specimens. 

Some  of  these  old  dwelling  houses  were  low 
studded, with  the  timbers  projecting  into  the  rooms,  and 
having  in  the  centre  a  huge  chimney  stack,  with  a 
big  fireplace  in  the  kitchen,  and  smaller  ones  in  the 
other  principal  rooms. 

These  rooms  were  very  plainly  furnished.  Be- 
sides the  settles,  forms  and  stools,  there  were  pine  and 
oak  tables,  with  chairs  having  flag  bottoms,  and  occa- 
sionally a  "  picter  "  on  the  walls,  but  always  a  look- 
ing glass  in  a  yellow  painted  frame,  with  a  coarse 
painting  over  the  glass,  hung  up  high ;  these  with  a 
"  sampler  "  now  and  then,  together  with  a  few  ghastly 
high  colored  portraits  of  old  notabilities  of  the  family, 
constituted  the  ornamental  exhibit  of  the  rooms. 


44 

HEATING  AND  COOKING  APPARATUS. 

"  The  fireplace  broad,  let  down  the  cold, 
And  outlet  gave  for  hot  air,  too." 

The  houses  could  be  but  partially  warmed  in  cold 
winter  days;  the  only  comfortable  place  was  the 
kitchen,  with  its  ample  fireplace,  filled  with  a  mass  of 
burning  cord  wood,  with  a  back  log,  a  foot  or  more  in 
diameter.  Sometimes  turf  as  it  was  called,  or  peat, 
was  used  ;  while  at  night  the  beds  were  warmed  by  a 
long  handled  warming  pan. 

The  hooks  and  trammels,  swinging  crane  and 
hakes,  the  skillets,  trivets,  with  pots  and  kettles,  tin 
kitchens,  wooden  plates  for  hoe  cakes,  andirons, 
swinging  bakers,  tongs,  shovels,  and  bellows,  to  start 
a  fire  that  would  not  go,  all  more  or  less  seen  through 
the  smoke,  looked  like  Pandemonium,  and  made  a 
sooty  mass  of  culinary  kit,  that  would  completely  be- 
fog a  modern  "Chef  de  Cuisine";  while  just  at  hand 
was  the  huge  brick  oven's  mouth,  wherein  were  baked 
brown  bread  and  beans,  Indian  suet  puddings,  and 
pies,  such  luscious  ones,  squash,  mince  and  apple,  as 
leaves  the  taste  and  smell  in  the  mouth  and  nose  af- 
terwards; these  kept  in  the  oven  overnight,  came  out 
in  the  morning  "  done  to  a  turn,"  while  just  back,  the 
"  smoke  hole,'"  like  a  room,  contained  the  legs  of  ba- 
con on  poles,  getting  a  rich  fine  flavor,  'from  the 
smouldering  corn  cobs  sweetly  scented  smoke  ;  while 
tilted  up  on  the  hearth,  before  the  fire,  stood  a  row  of 


45 


wooden  plates,  on  which  hoe  cakes  cooked  better  than 
in  an  oven ;  sometimes  a  large  tin  kitchen  stood  in 
their  place,  containing  a  cock  turkey  or  piece  of  meat 
on  a  spit,  turning  round,  "  doing  good.'" 

lyong  rows  of  crookneck  squashes,  like  a  cornice, 
hung  suspended  by  strips  of  "  list  "  round  the  ceiling, 
while  under,  o'er  the  mantlepiece,  on  pegs,  hung  the 
old  Queen's  Arm,  with  powder  horn,  and  bag  of  flints 
and  bullets.  On  the  mantlepiece  itself  was  a  row  of 
candlesticks  and  a  tinder  box,  with  flint  and  steel  to 
"  light  a  match."  Close  to  was  the  sink  and  "  dres- 
ser'' with  a  large  closet,  containing  pewter  plates, 
porringers,  tankards,  Vv'ith  wooden  ware,  and  some  old 
blue  edged  English  ware. 

At  last  relief  was  gained  by  using  stoves.  In 
1 817,  the  James  Stove,  the  first  of  an  almost  innumer- 
able host,  niade  its  appearance,  followed  by  the 
"  Wilson  "  in  1825.  These  two  were  the  grandpapa 
and  grandmama  of  all  the  nickel  plated  ones  of  today. 
Coal  Stoves  with  Anthracite  coal  came  in  1840. 

LIGHTS. 

The  first  lighting  apparatus,  of  which  we  have 
account,  was  "Pine  Knots."  These  were  stuck  in 
iron  holders  at  the  edges  of  the  fire  place,  and  were 
used  by  the  poorer  class,  quite  as  late  as  1830.  Con- 
temporary with  these,  or  later,  came  the  "  Betty 
Lamps"  or  "Petticoat  Lamps"  as  often  called. 
These  consisted  of  a  shallow  dish  of   pewter,  tin  or 


46 


brass,  with  grease  or  tallow.  These  lamps  were  com- 
mon till  1835.  Then  came  the  "Dips"  or  candles 
made  by  repeatedly  dipping  a  long  wick  in  melted 
tallow.  These  were  succeeded  by  candles  run  in 
moulds,  often  with  bayberry  wax  in  the  tallow  to  make 
them  firmer.  With  these  came  snuffers  and  tray.  In 
time  whale  oil  lamps  took  their  place  ;  kerosene  oil 
came  in  1850,  with  Astral,  Solar  and  other  patterns  of 
lamps,  while  in  turn,  gas  and  lightning  revolutionized 
all  former  methods  of  illumination. 

The  old  time  lanterns  were  made  of  tin,  punched 
full  of  holes  in  figures,  in  which  were  stuck  pieces  of 
candle,  and  of  such  a  size  sometimes,  that  once  on  a 
time,  a  rabbit  was  roasted  in  a  large  one,  the  same  as 
in  a  tin  kitchen.  The  son  informed  the  neighbors, 
that  "  Father  he  caught  a  "  racer  "  in  the  woods,  and 
mother  cooked  it  in  the  lantern." 

WAYS  OF  I.IVING. 

In  those  days,  almost  everything  was  raised  or 
made  by  each  family  for  itself.  Cash  was  scarce,  and 
hard  to  get.  Stockings,  leggings,  mittens,  nets,  and 
mufflers  were  knit  at  home.  Articles  of  clothing  were 
mostly  of  family  production.  Vegetables,  butter, 
cheese,  eggs,  pickles,  soap,  candles,  matches,  vinegar, 
preser\-es,  sausages,  meats  of  different  kinds,  all  were 
produced,  and  lent  to  the  neighbors,  to  be  repaid  in 
kind  in  future  as  wanted,  or  exchanged  from  day  to 
day.     The  forests  furnished  game,  the  ponds  fish. 


47 


The  well  was  used  as  a  refrigerator,  articles  being 
lowered  down  into  it  in  summer,  and  kept  there. 
Wood  and  peat  were  cut  on  the  place. 

A  quart  of  rum  to  make  blackstrap,  a  salt  fish 
with  half  a  pound  of  crackers,  was  a  common  purchase 
on  Saturday  eve,  when  the  men  met  at  Wade'sor  Zeb 
Wyman's  store  at  the  centre,  or  at  Josiah  Converse's 
at  Hawker  Square  to  crack  jokes,  talk  politics,  or 
purchase  necessities  for  the  week. 

The  '' wimmen  folks''  had  their  fun  too,  running 
to  a  neighbors  to  hear  the  chit-chat  of  the  week,  or 
to  compare  notes  on  housekeeping. 

These  purchases  at  the  stores  were  largely  paid 
for  in  produce.  Some  stores  had  signs  which  read 
"  Cash  and  Barter  Store,''  which  meant  that  produce 
was  taken  as  cash.  The  housewife  largely  obtained 
her  calico,  dry  goods  and  supplies  from  the  profits  of 
her  hens  and  milk  trade. 

But  little  was  spent  for  travel,  and  still  less  for 
luxuries,  or  fashionable  dresses. 

CARPETS. 

Up  to  1816  there  were  no  carpets  in  town,  except 
home  made  rugs,  or  the  pelt  of  some  wild  beast. 

The  floors  were  scoured  with  sand,  and  made 
white  as  snow.  A  little  later,  a  few  came,  homemade 
of  rags,  which  covered  most  of  the  room.  I,ater  still 
paper  put  down  over  coarse  cotton  cloth,  and  varnish- 
ed, came  into  style,  till,  with  more  money,  appeared 
in  most  of  the  houses,  those  of  factory  manufacture. 


48 
WAIvIv    PAPER. 

"Wall  paper  was  introduced  a  hundred  years  ago. 

The  first  was  made  in  pieces  of  less  than  two  feet 
long. 

In  the  "  Brick  "  or  Clapp  House  at  Hawker 
Square,  was  landscape  paper,  representing  Capt. 
Cook,  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  amid  the  gorgeous 
splendor  of  the  tropics,  just  landing,  with  gaily  painted 
Indians  standing  around  ;  indeed  this  paper  was  for  a 
long  time  in  vogue.  The  Baldwin  House  was  in  part 
hung  with  this  stj'le.  So  also  was  the  house  of  Lewis 
Shaw,  and  that  of  Dr.  Drew  on  Pleasant  Street. 

BEDSTEADS. 

Bedsteads  had  strong  hemp  ropes  stretched 
thick  across,  and  tightened  with  a  wrench  and 
pin.  Sometimes  they  were  made  with  "  sacking 
bottoms"  hung  with  ropes.  Some  were  at  times 
made  with  posts  so  high,  that  short  legged  roosters  had 
to  use  a  stool  to  climb  into  their  lofty  sleeping  quar- 
ters. These  had  a  serge,  harrateen  or  print  canopy, 
with  Valance  round  the  lower  part.  The  lower  tick 
was  filled  with  straw,  on  which  was  laid  a  feather  bed, 
in  which  the  sleeper  sank  almost  out  of  sight,  delicious 
for  a  cold  December  night,  in  an  icy  cold  chamber, 
but  quite  a  different  affair  in  June, 

The  thrifty  housewife,  vnth  her  silken  quilt  of 
patchwork,  or  more  homely  one  of  squares  composed 


49 


of  pieces  of  calico  and  former  dresses,  with  blankets 
woven  by  her  in  the  house,  and  linen  sheets,  the  pro- 
duct of  her  hands,  made  quite  as  good  a  show,  and 
even  more  comfort,  than  do  our  modern  dames  with 
their  Marseilles'  spreads,  and  spready  shams,  laid  over 
a  stiff  mattress  of  curled  hair,  which  is  often  half  ex- 
celsior, wearing  into  holes  and  bunches  in  a  short 
time  like  most  of  the  beds  now-a-days  in  hotels,  which 
the  old  method  was  free  of.  The  old  feather  bed  for 
winter,  and  the  modern  mattress  for  summer,  would 
be  an  ideal  arrangement. 

WHAT  THEY  READ. 

Our  Ancestors  had  rather  a  poor  show  of  books 
to  read.  Here  is  a  list  of  the  choicest  they  had  ;  we 
should  call  it  rather  slim  and  quite  monotonous,  but 
all,  old  and  young,  read  the  same,  for  it  was  regula- 
tion mental  diet. 

New  England  Almanac. 

The  Catechism. 

Bunyan's  Pilgrim's  Progress. 

Origin  of  the  Whalebone  Petticoat. 

Wigglesworth's  Day  of  Doom. 

Calvin  on  Psalms. 

Bay  Psalm  Book. 

The  Wicked  Man's  Portion. 

A  Posie  from  Old  Mr.  Dodd's  Garden. 

Chap  Books. 

Broadside  Ballads. 


50 


Doctor  Faustus'  Compact  with  the  Devil. 
The  Devil's  Dungeon  in  the  Skies. 

John  Cotton  got  one  up,  which  was  entitled, 
"Spiritual  Milk  for  Boston  Babies,  drawn  from  the 
Breasts  of  Both  Testaments,  for  their  soul's  nourish- 
ment," in  which  it  said,  "It  might  be  of  use  to  any 
children." 

The  first  novel  ever  read  here,  intituled  "The 
Power  of  Sj-mpathy"  was  in  1789  ;  this  though  of  sober 
cast,  was  newer  thought ;  while  soon  there  came  a 
change  from  "Doomsday  Books"  to  those  of  more 
cheerful  tone  and  higher  power. 

Then  the  fashion  came  to  write  a  verse  on  the  fly 
leaf,  as  a  safety  from  theft.  Of  these  old  doggerels  in 
ancient  books,  I  give  a  few  specimens. 

"  Take  notice,  this  is  not  your  book. 
You  may  just  within  it  look, 
You'd  better  not  do  more, 
For  Old  Black  Satan's  at  the  door, 
And  will  snatch  at  stealing  hands, 
Look  behind  you  !  there  he  stands." 

"  Please  note,  that  if  this  book  you  take. 
You  choose  vile  Satan  lor  your  mate." 

"  Steal  not  this  book,  my  honest  friend, 
For  fear  the  gallows  will  be  your  end." 

' '  Steal  not  this  book,  for  fear  of  shame. 
For  here  you  see  the  owner's  name." 

"  Consult  your  conscience,  and  then  see. 
If  3^ou  dare  steal  this  book  from  me." 


51 


"I'm  watching  now,  3'ou  through  a  crack, 
So  shut  the  book,  and  put  it  back." 

"  If  you  are  tempted  this  to  take, 
IvCt  it  alone  for  conscience's  sake." 

"  If  you  are  tempted  this  to  take, 
Go  out  and  count  just  twenty-eight. 
When  3^ou  come  back,  within,  I  ween 
You'll  feel  the  prick  of  conscience  keen." 

"  Your  own  Soul's  worth,  you  measure  w^hen 
You  steal  this  book  as  specimen  ; 
Which  is  of  greater  value,  pray. 
Your  soul,  or  book  you'd  steal  today  ?  " 

It  was  not  till  1704  that  a  newspaper  was  seen  in 
the  place.  It  was  the  "News  Letter,"  printed  in 
Boston  ;  and  not  till  1725,  that  they  were  regularly 
brought  to  town,  even  then  only  a  few.  The  same 
old  books  were  read  and  re-read,  with  now  and  then 
a  peep  at  the  "  Gazette,"  till  nearly  1769,  after  which 
they  became  more  common.  Even  Woburn  did  not 
boast  of  a  newspaper  printed  in  town  till  1839,  when 
the  Woburn  Sentinel  was  commenced. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

But  these  folks  did  not  go  without  their  fun. 
The  farmers  had  their  huskings  in  the  fall.  At  these 
merry-makings  peculiar  to  New  England  life,  all  the 
neighbors,  girls  and  boys,  were  invited.  As  nearly 
every  one  brought  a  lantern,  the  barn  was  light  as 
day.     Before  the  rows  of  girls  and  boys,  the  mountain 


52 


piles  of  unhusked  corn,  were  quickly  turued,  as  if  b}^ 
magic  power,  into  great  heaps  of  shining  golden  ears, 
ever  and  anon  loud  smacks  and  screams  announced 
the  finding  of  a  bright  red  ear,  the  sure  precursor  of 
the  coming  kiss  ;  then  when  the  work  was  done,  the 
girls  retired,  and  quickly  by  their  nimble  fingers,  a 
supper  fit  to  grace  a  palace  hall,  was  spread  along  the 
ample  kitchen  space,  while  all  the  girls  and  boys 
sat  mixed,  in  wooden  chairs,  a  merrier  crew  was 
never  seen  before.  Then  after  tea,  the  dance  began, 
the  "'pigeon  wing  "  and  double  shuffle  raised  the  fun 
so  high,  that  scarcely  could  the  fiddle's  sound  be 
heard  ;  it  made  the  stout  floor  tremble  'neath  their 
feet. 

"And  then  the  musters  in  the  fall, 
Where  all  the  shows  assembled, 
When  bugles  blowed,  when  fiddles  squeaked, 
And  air  with  frolic  trembled." 

Old  Song. 

The  women  too,  had  their  peculiar  times,  their 
quilting  parties,  neighborhood  affairs.  The  patch- 
work, already  made  sewed  in  squares,  was  stretched 
on  frames,  while  numerous  hands  of  skill  wnth  chat 
and  laugh  and  bits  of  gossip  too,  sat  round,  and 
quickly  finished  up  the  job.  'Twas  then  the  supper 
followed,  blue  edged  plates,  britannia  teapot,  knives 
and  two  pronged  forks  of  steel,  with  special  things 
for  strictly  company  use,  which  people  now  are 
anxious  to  procure,  were  brought  from  hidden  places 
to  be  used  at  the  feast. 


53 


And  then  the  "Apple  Bees,"  when  cold  nights 
came,  called  together  girls  and  boys  in  smaller  circles, 
quite  often  in  the  Fall,  who,  sitting  round  with  pan  in 
lap.  told  stories,  legends,  gossip,  news,  while 

"  Each  girl's  heart  went  '  pity-pat,' 
Each  boy's  went  pity  Zekiel," 

and  tried  with  careful  hand  to  pare  the  peel,  so  that 
it  would  be  in  one  long  string  unbroken  when  done, 
for  according  to  the  laws  of  Apple  Bee,  the  lucky  one 
could  put  it  around  the  neck  of  the  favorite,  and  take 
a  kiss.  After  which  the  fruit  was  cored,  quartered 
and  strung  on  strings,  which  in  the  Autumn  weather 
dried  hard  and  sweet,  to  be  packed  away,  or  hung  in 
festoons  on  the  kitchen  walls  for  winter  use  in  apple 
pies  and  sauce.     These  were  the  days  of  strange 

FASHIONS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

When  ladies  dressed  in  calico, 

And  sipped  bohea  and  hyson,  too, 

While  some,  the  older,  sometimes  whiffed, 

And  maccaboy  and  rappee  sniffed  : — 

When  shoes  with  cross-cut  heels  were  worn, 

With  green  calash  of  chaise  top  form ; 

While  huge  horn  combs  with  monstrous  teeth, 

Held  firm  the  smooth  slicked  hair  beneath : — 

When  lockets  swung  from  ev'ry  neck. 

And  long  earrings  then  helped  to  deck 

The  dashing  belles  of  'seventy-nine, 

With  low  cut  dress  and  crinoline. 

Soon  after  that,  girls  laced  so  tight. 


54 


To  make  their  waists  small  to  the  sight, 

That  some  began  to  weaken,  die, 

While  all  deplored  the  injury 

Caused  by  these  corded,  strained  up  clasps, 

Which  made  their  bodies  like  a  wasp's, 

Till  Plympton's  sajdng  op'ed  their  eyes, 

"It  kills  the  fools,  but  leaves  the  wise;" 

Then  petticoats  with  hoops  begun 

In  corsets'  place  to  have  a  run, 

For  by  compare,  a  common  waist, 

Beside  of  these,  pleased  ev'ry  taste; 

Till  now  it  shows  its  proper  make. 

The  skirt  assumes  a  normal  shape, 

For  walking  flour-barrel  form 

Collapsed,  when  corn-cob  shape  came  on  : 

So  tout  ensemble  comes  down  fine, 

To  nature's  own  sweet  beauty  line. 

Next  bustles  had  their  humpbacked  sway, 

Till  "Grecian  Bend"  drove  them  away; 

And  then  the  "Swaying  Motion"  rage, 

Like  actress  on  theatric  stage, 

Pleased  all  the  girls,  crazed  all  the  men. 

The  poetry  of  walking  then. 

But  these  things  change  as  years  go  by, 
New  ones  must  come  to  satisfy 
Our  modern  dainty  butterflies 
Whom  fortune  nothing  rich  denies, 
So  queer  shaped,  shirred-up  fancy  dresses. 
And  barbared,  pinned  up,  curly  tresses. 
Now  take  the  place  of  old-time  trains, 
While  borrowed  hairs  help  what  remains. 

The  men,  too,  though  so  stern  and  brave 
That  one  would  think  'twould  surely  save 
Them  from  delusive  Fashion's  power,    . 


55 


lyike  women  vain,  yield  in  the  hour 
When  some  delightful  style  in  trousers, 
Or  dashy  cut  in  coat  arouses 
Their  inborn  pride  to  be  a  dandy, 
And  with  the  latest  fad  be  handy  : — 
So  our  old  fathers,  although  steady, 
Lost  head  sometimes,  and  acted  giddy, 
So  dashed  around  in  gold  laced  coat, 
With  choker  white,  bound  round  the  throat 
Clear  to  the  ears,  broad  frills  of  lace. 
Curtained  the  wrists,  the  bosom  graced, 
While  breeches  buckled  at  the  knee, 
And  long  silk  stockings  gentlemanly, 
Showed  off  a  well  turned  manly  calf. 
Which  made  the  ladies  stare  and  laugh, 
To  see  such  vain  attempts  to  wrest 
From  them  their  sceptered  throne  in  dress  : 
But  on  the)'  went,  their  queues  bound  fast 
With  ribbons  swinging  in  the  blast, 
And  powdered  peruke,  buckled  shoes, 
Bandana  'kerchief  for  the  nose, 
And  cocked-up  hat,  gold  headed  cane. 
Those  ancient  dandies,  proud  and  vain. 

So  Fashion  rules  with  iron  rod. 
And  all  fall  prostrate  at  her  nod  ; — 
Each  newest  whim  is  fine  to  follow. 
Today  'tis  handsome,  vile,  tomorrow. 
That  green  calash,  with  bridle  on, 
Which  took  our  ancient  belles  by  storm. 
Is  turned  into  a  hat  so  big, 
With  breadth  of  beam,  and  upper  rig 
Of  feathers,  ribbons,  wired  so  high, 
That  those  in  Church  do  vainly  try 
To  see  the  parson  who's  the  rage, 


66 


Or  at  the  theatre,  view  the  stage, 
While  legislators  in  their  wrath, 
Call  it  the  vilest  thing  on  earth, 
But  fail,  on  counting  yea  and  nay, 
To  vote  the  lovely  thing  away. 
The  tight  sleeves  of  our  olden  dames, 
In  time  enlarged  to  balloon  frames, 
Then  dwindled  under  Fashion's  powder. 
To  rise  again  at  this  late  hour, 
In  mutton  shoulders,  puffed  up  so 
That  scarcely  through  a  door  they'll  go; 
So  now  and  then,  these  old  things  come 
Around  again  in  Fashiondom. 


LETTERS. 

Letter  paper  only  was  used  in  old  times,  there 
was  no  note  size.  The  postage  for  longest  distance 
was  25  cents,  shortest  6  cents. 

Xt  Miss  Burgess'  Academy  in  the  Old  Sawyer 
House,  now  Salmon's  Store,  in  1801,  as  many  as  ten 
ways  for  folding  letters  were  taught,  as  no  envelopes 
were  then  known.  It  was  quite  a  fad  to  fold  these 
nicely.  Even  at  Warren  Academy  in  its  early  days, 
instruction  in  folding  was  given  on  writing  days.  A 
love  letter  could  be  told  at  once  by  sight.  A  puzzle 
form  was  used,  which  required  art  to  fold  or  open 
without  tearing.  In  1806  they  were  first  sent  by  reg- 
ular mail  stage ;  before  that,  they  came  by  package 
tied  up,  and  brought  by  the  driver  in  his  hat  or  pocket, 
»or  by  private  conveyance,  as  the  case  might  be. 


57 
SUPERSTITIONS. 

Mark  now  !  how  in  those  times  of  yore, 
Odd  superstitions  ruled  the  day 
With  iron  rod,  of  reason  void, 
Which  science  since  has  brushed  away. 
The  day  on  which  a  child  saw  light, 
Determined  what  its  life  should  be. 
The  hour  'twas  born,  too,  had  the  right, 
To  seal  its  future  destiny. 
Sunday  was  blessed  for  a  birth, 
Tuesdaj^'s  babe  was  born  to  woe, 
Wednesday's  was  full  of  joy  and  mirth, 
Thursda^^s'  to  the  bad  would  go  ; 
Those  born  on  Monday,  Saturday, 
Were  left  without  a  special  gift, 
To  work  their  fortunes  out  alone. 
As  nondescripts,  not  meddled  with. 
An  infant  found  with  caul  at  birth. 
Would  lucky  be  in  consequence. 
No  witch  could  steal  it,  on  the  earth, 
None  could  exceed  its  eloquence. 
The  '  'Evil  Eye' '  all  good  souls  knew, 
Would,  if  the  child  was  not  baptised 
Before  it  got  its  fatal  view, 
Sure  have  that  infant  devilized. 
A  seventh  son  of  seventh  son. 
Had  power  of  second  sight,  and  skill 
To  cure  diseases,  set  a  bone. 
And  do  the  strangest  cures  at  will. 
The  howling  of  dog,  alas. 
Foretold  the  death  of  some  one  soon, 
The  breaking  of  a  looking-glass 
Proclaimed  the  same  unfailing  doom. 
If  thirteen  at  the  table  sat. 


58 


Within  one  year,  some  power  unknown, 

Would  send,  one  sure,  no  doubt  of  that, 

By  Death's  cold  road  to  Pluto's  throne. 

The  new  moon  first  seen  straight  in  front, 

Or  with  a  clear  right  shoulder  view, 

Would  give  good  luck  for  thirty  days, 

As  every  one  who  tried  it  knew  ; 

But  woe  to  him,  who  saw  it  o'er 

His  other  shoulder,  omen  bad, 

For  one  whole  month,  the  fates  would  frown. 

No  luck  or  comfort  could  be  had. 

If  pear  or  apple  tree  should  blow 

Twice  in  the  season  before  frost. 

The  family  would  have  to  mourn 

Some  loved  one  classed  among  the  lost. 

If  salt  was  spilled,  a  quarrel  came, 

The  spell  would  work  without  a  halt, 

The  only  way  to  stop  its  course, 

Was  o'er  your  shoulder  throw  the  salt. 

Th'  unluckiest  things  beneath  the  sun, 

A  whistling  woman,  crowing  hen, 

Were  luckily  but  seldom  seen, 

They'e  neither  fit  for  Gods  nor  men. 

Friday,  of  all  days  in  the  week, 

Makes  men  with  bad  things  grapple, 

The  reason's  plain,  for  on  that  day, 

Poor  Adam  ate  the  apple. 

For  nose-bleed,  skeins  of  scarlet  silk, 

Tied  with  nine  knots  in  front, 

Will  stop  the  bleeding  instantly, 

But  mark  !  it  surely  wont, 

Unless  it  is  some  gentleman, 

The  silk  ties  for  a  lady. 

Or  woman,  on  the  other  hand, 

Does  it  for  man  or  laddie. 


59 

But  now-a-days,  the  M.  D's  say, 
The  Devil's  microbes  small, 
Cause  these  delusions  of  the  mind, 
But  medicine  cures  all, 
For  such  weird  notions  started  from 
Dyspepsia,  diseased  liver. 
With  myriad  bacilli  to  set 
The  stomach  in  a  quiver  : 
If  you  desire  to  have  these  spells 
Work  on  your  clouded  brain, 
You  only  need  to  live  quite  high, 
And  they'll  come  back  again; 
But  if  of  these  you've  had  enough, 
Be  sensible,  don't  doubt. 
Take  little  pellets  every  day, 
And  kick  the  rascals  out. 


CONCLUSION. 

The  above  hitherto  unwritten  events,  traditions, 
legends,  and  stray  waifs,  are  a  part  of  the  general  his- 
tory' of  our  town,  and  serve  to  fill  up  the  blanks  in 
the  otherwise  incomplete  account. 

These  have  always  been  considered  valuable,  and 
in  coming  years  will  be  counted  invaluable,  as  por- 
traying the  life  of  our  people.  It  is  not  enough,  that 
the  historian  laboriously  details  the  events  which  have 
taken  place  from  the  first  settlement  of  a  town.  The 
beliefs,  feelings,  ways,  superstitions,  manners,  modes 
of  living,  old  stories  which  have  local  meaning,  and 
the  march  of  improvement  in  everything,  should  in  a 
story-like,  attractive  style,  be  also  written.     No  one 


60 


man  can  do  both.  Soon  no  one  will  be  left  who  can 
do  the  latter,  as  it  is  mainly  a  matter  of  memory  ;  or 
sketch  the  old  buildings  and  scenes  here  presented. 

The  first  will  be  read  by  the  few,  the  last  by  the 
masses,  while  both  together  form  a  complete  record. 

The  business  part  may  be  briefly  sketched,  to 
make  the  picture  more  complete. 

To  sum  up,  therefore,  our  town,  as  Johnson  says, 
had  "pocket  penniless,"  and  "  weakest  means  ;"  but 
then,  it  had  of  able  men,  afe^v,  whose  resolution  saved 
the  ''  Pritty  Girle''  and  with  "weak  means,"  did 
bring  this  thing  to  pass,  w^hich  all  today  now  see  be- 
fore their  eyes. 

The  plough,  which  by  the  \vay  was  wooden  then, 
and  after,  shod  wdth  iron  plates  and  share,  turned  from 
the  virgin  soil  by  hardest  work  the  first  wealth  the 
struggling  towm  could  boast ;  but  enterprise,  which 
strongly  was  inlaid  in  men  who  dared  the  wilderness 
for  homes,  soon  forced  Dame  fortune  to  impart  her 
gifts,  although  she  made  them  work  to  gain  her 
smiles.  The  Wyman's  in  their  tanners'  pits  at  "  Haw- 
ker Square,"  and  Gershom  Flagg  in  his  little  shop  in 
the  "  Town  Meadows,"  just  north  of  the  "  Training 
Field,"  with  their  unaided  hands  began  to  w^ork  a 
mine,  which  led  to  future  grow^th  ;  these  small  begin- 
nings grew  to  the  great  factories  which  opened  up  the 
markets  of  the  world,  wherein  to  sell  the  products  of 
our  skill. 

The  Knights  of  St.  Crispin,  with  their  numerous 
factories,  who  at  first  "  whipped  the  cat''   from  house 


6  1 


to  house,  and  formed  the  first  great  trade  in  town, 
furnished  another,  which  built  up  the  place. 

The  able  workers  in  these  two  pursuits,  and  others 
which  sprung-  up,  successfully  built  on  the  foundations 
laid  so  sure  and  strong,  till  like  the  columned  city  of 
an  eastern  mart,  our  pretty  town  rose  to  take  an  hon- 
ored place,  while  rising  still,  it  emulates'  the  rest,  in 
honest  competition  seeking  growth. 

But  mark  the  progress  from  the  humble  way  in 
which  the  trades  began. 

The  \V3'man's  in  a  simple  one  horse  cart,  carried 
the  products  of  their  toil  themselves  to  market. 

The  earliest  shoemakers,  Leathe  and  others,  car- 
ried a  few  dozen  pairs  of  shoes  to  Boston,  in  a  hand- 
cart, or  on  a  sled  in  winter,  to  the  public  open  air 
market,  held  in  Fanueil  Hall  Square,  and  there  stood 
and  sold  them,  returning  on  foot  after  the  market  was 
over.  Converse  and  Thompson  went  in  an  open 
wagon,  with  a  couple  of  bags  of  shoes  apiece  to- 
gether to  save  expense,  for  each  had  but  half  a  load, 
bringing  back  stock  and  groceries  in  part  paj-  for 
them;  while  Thompson,  the  Winns,  Cummings,  Bond. 
Tidd  and  others,  leather  men  ;  withChoate,  Flanders, 
Gramraer,  Richardson,  Parker,  Nichols,  Winn  &  Co. 
and  many  more,  manufacturers  of  shoes,  in  whose  pa- 
latial shops  the  thousands  toiled,  sent  theirs  in  numer- 
ous cases,  carloads,  to  their  city  stores,  to  sell  b}- 
wholesale,  not  only  to  the  buyers,  flocking  there,  but 
also  in  the  markets  of  the  world. 

And  still  the  work  goes  on,  our  city  grows.     The 


62 


same  creative  force  which  once  was  here,  and  nursed 
our  town,  and  its  infant  industries  to  life  and  strength, 
is  reproduced  in  our  young  life  today.  The  business 
men,  who  give  our  people  work,  la}^  down  their  tools 
in  time,  and  pass  from  sight,  leaving  their  energy  in 
works  behind  ;  but  others  rise  with  power  and  take 
the  helm,  to  steer  our  city  in  her  prosperous  way  of 
progress,  which  she  proudly  has  maintained  ;  though 
varying  fortunes  mark  the  passing  years,  the  steady 
march  goes  on  ;  factories  increase,  prosperity  has  ever 
marked  our  path,  and  always  will,  as  long  as  work 
and  skill,  with  honest  efforts  hew  the  way  to  rise.  So 
let  us  strive  to  rectify  all  wrongs,  to  grow  in  goodness 
as  we  grow  in  size,  and  make  Old  Woburn  what  it 
ought  to  be,  A  Model  City,  pattern  for  the  rest. 


INVOCATION. 

Let  Honesty  walk  with  the  plough, 
And  Dealers  show  the  world  that  now 

Deception  is  no  more : — 
Let  Temperance  guide  our  drink  and  meat, 
And  Charity  with  willing  feet, 

Assist  the  needy  poor. 

The  Shopman  gains,  when  Virtue  reigns. 
The  Rogue  gets  nothing  for  his  pains 

Except  a  cell  in  jail  : — 
The  Parson  cannot  lead  his  flock 
To  fairer  fields,  where  Grace  is  not, 

And  sinful  thoughts  prevail : — 


63 

The  Lraw5'er's  plea  is  all  in  vain, 
If  speech  is  tarnished  with  a  stain, 

Sage  Doctors  must  be  good  : — 
All's  lost  if  Faithfulness  should  stop, 
And  cease  to  rule  in  Currier's  shop. 

As  in  all  trades  it  should. 

So  aim  your  arrow  higher  still, 

You'll  reach  your  mark,  if  your  stern  will 

Pulls  hard  with  truth  to  win. 
Push  on  the  right,  with  all  your  might, 
Nor  let  your  zeal  slack  day  or  night 

In  fighting  crime  and  sin. 


64 


The  Origin  of  Mts.  Mianomo  and 

ToWANDA,  AND   LaKE   InNITOU, 

WITH  Sequel. 

AN  INDIAN  LEGEND. 

PROI.OGUE. 

Indians  untrained  in  school-like  things, 
Saw  through  their  gilded  clouds  of  thought 
The  fancyings  of  untaught  minds, 
Results  imagination  wrought. 

The  earthquake  shock,  the  glacier's  work. 
The  Winter  stern,  and  Summer's  sun. 
All  showed  to  their  astonished  eyes 
What  various  Gods  in  rage  had  done. 

They  felt  the  tremblings  of  the  earth, 
The  saw  th'  eternal  mountains  rise. 
And  streams  rush  down  to  form  a  lake, 
The  work  of  demons  from  the  skies. 

Their  braves  and  squaws  at  evening  fires. 
Sat  round  and  told  these  ancient  tales, 
Which  handed  down  from  sire  to  son. 
Oft  echoed  in  our  peaceful  vales. 


Q^ 


0^ 


65 


And  now  these  red  men  are  no  more, 
Fond  mem'ry  flick 'ring  in  this  age, 
Lingers  to  light  th'  immortal  lamp, 
Which  photographes  the  printed  page. 

In  the  histories  of  all  races  of  men,  however  low 
in  the  scale  of  intellect,  there  exist  old  myths,  stories 
and  legends,  called  "  Folk  Lore,"  by  modern  writers, 
which,  when  compared,  will  be  found  to  have  a  gene- 
ral resemblance,  the  pith  mostly  being  the  same. 

These  were  not  all  necessarily  acquired  by  trans- 
mission from  nation  to  nation,  through  the  medium  of 
travelers  and  commerce,  but  rather,  were  very  often 
independently  originated  from  local  causes,  because 
the  same  mental  structure  was  common  to  all,  while 
circumstances  and  events  varied  in  the  different  places 
on  which  the  mind  acted  ;  the  only  real  difference 
seeming  to  be,  that  the  influence  of  climate,  moun- 
tainous regions  or  maritime  districts  and  the  education 
or  want  of  it,  of  the  people,  acting  on  so  delicate  an 
organ  as  the  human  brain,  determined  the  several 
verbal  dresses  in  which  these  common  children  of  the 
mind  should  be  clothed. 

Among  uneducated  races,  effects  suggest  causes, 
and  ignorance  breeds  superstition ;  so  when  convul- 
sions of  nature,  or  strange  phenomena  occurred, 
imagination  supplied  the  place  of  scientific  reasoning, 
accounting  for  such  things  in  the  manner  most  appar- 
ent to  their  untrained  senses  ;  these  events,  with  the 
explanations  handed  down,  at  first  orally,  and  thor- 
oughly believed  in  by  all,  were  later  improved  by  men 


66 


of  genius  in  the  growing  greatness  of  the  human  mind, 
till  finally  being  reduced  to  writing,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  mythology  of  Greece,  Rome,  Persia  and  Arabia, 
the^^  furnished  the  highest  conceptions,  and  the  most 
beautifully  wrought  imagery  the  world  today  is  pos- 
sessed of,  from  which,  although  modern  science  has 
long  ago  exposed  their  fallacy,  all  authors  at  the 
present  time,  draw  their  choicest  materials  for  poetry, 
plots  and  illustrations. 

In  America,  the  same  process,  acting  on  local 
events,  is  in  progress,  marching  on  towards  classical 
perfection.  lyongfellow,  Whittier,  Irving  and  others 
have  taken  these  old  American  legends,  aboriginal 
and  historical,  and  by  the  power  of  genius  and  culture 
have  transformed  them  into  gems  of  beauty,  from 
which  all  waiters  will  draw  and  quote  in  years  to 
come. 

The  very  interesting  local  myth  now  told,  no 
doubt  original  here,  and  not  transmitted,  is  the  highly 
imaginative  aboriginal  story  of  the  origin  of  Mts.  Mia- 
nomo  and  Towanda,  and  I^ake  Innitou,  founded  in  all 
probability  on  some  ancient  convulsion  of  nature, 
which  was  formerly  current  in  Woburn,  but  now  nearly 
faded  out  ;  and  which  is  thought  worthy  of  preserva- 
tion. 

A  person  standing  on  Winn  Street,  just  north  of 
the  foot  of  Franklin  Street,  and  looking  over  the 
"  Town  Meadows,"  at  Mianomo,  will,  without  draw- 
ing very  much  on  his  imagination,  notice,  that  it  looks 
like  a  huge  animal,   which  had   apparently  traveled 


67 


there  from  some  remote  region,  and  then  fallen,  never 
to  rise  again.  To  the  south  is  seen  the  head  of  the 
great  monster,  standing  boldly  out  against  the  sky  ; 
farther  north,  after  passing  its  neck,  which  is  plain  to 
be  seen,  the  back  is  noticed,  rising  still  higher  ;  while 
as  the  eye  ranges  along  north,  the  body  growing  less 
and  less  in  size,  terminates  in  a  broad  flat  tail  lost  in 
the  ground,  completing,  together  with  the  legend  long 
handed  down,  of  some  great  event  in  nature,  a  picture 
to  the  sensitive  imagination  of  the  ancient  savages  co- 
eval with  such  event,  suggesting  no  doubt,  what  it 
was,  and  the  reason  why  it  came  and  was  left  here. 

THE   LEGEND. 

One  day  in  Autumn,  of  the  days 

When  Nature  looks  her  best, 

I  sauntered  forth  'neath  painted  skies, 

To  take  a  little  rest ; 

For  I  had  bent  o'er  desk  to  try 

With  mental  brush  to  draw 

A  sketch  of  old  time  Wooborne  town, 

From  records  which  I  saw. 

I  took  my  way  'long  Franklin  street 

And  Winn,  up  to  the  Mount* 

Called  Mianomo  by  the  race 

Of  Indians  we  turned  out. 

The  golden  glows,  which  Autumn  shows, 

Flamed  from  each  bush  and  tree, 

While  earth  and  sky  combined  to  light 

A  mental  ecstasy. 

The  soft,  warm  Indian  Summer  air, 

*  Rag-Rock. 


68 


Perfumed  with  Asters'  breath, 

Drove  all  the  cares  of  life  away, 

Till  naught  but  Heaven  w^as  left ; 

While  as  I  walked  'mid  golden  sheen 

To  climb  our  famous  hill, 

The  scents  from  that  fair  Vale  beneath,  ' 

They  lingered  round  me  still, 

Till  when  upon  the  top  I  stood 

And  viewed  the  gorgeous  scene, 

Where  gold,  red,  crimson,  yellow  mixed 

With  shading  tints  of  green, 

I  thought  upon  that  olden  time, 

Before  the  Pilgrim  band 

First  stepped  upon  the  rock-bound  shore, 

Or  trod  this  inland  land ; 

How  Indians  once  stood  on  this  spot 

To  watch  for  foes  around. 

And  kindled  here  great  signal  fires, 
Which  called  their  warriors  round.* 

The  warwhoop  dread  rang  in  my  ears, 

The  clashing  battle  cry. 

As  brave  met  brave  on  plain  below, 

To  conquer  or  to  die  ; 

And  how,  in  later  years,  the  whites 

Swept  all  these  scenes  away. 

And  brought  the  arts  of  christian  peace. 

Where  these  old  warriors  lay. 

I  sat  me  down  upon  the  hill. 

And  mused  in  dreamy  thought. 

Till  Heaven  before  my  active  brain, 

A  moving  picture  brought. 

Which  showed  me  Woburn  as  it  was, 

While  far  as  I  could  see, 

*  It  was  a  custom  with  aU  Indian  tribes  to  light  signal  fires  on  some 
high  hill,  on  the  approach  of  enemies. 


69 


The  ancient  forests  reared  their  tops 

In  native  majesty. 

Then  not  a  red-man  could  be  seen, 

But  wolf,  bear,  caribou, 

Roamed  through  dark  and  trackless  waste, 

Unharmed  by  human  foe. 

And  then  the  changing  scenes  disclosed 

Some  straggling  Indians  come,* 

Defeated  by  another  race,t 

In  their  far  western  home. 

They  spread,  I  saw  them  on  the  lake. 

Their  wigwams  in  the  vale, 

For  here  they  had  no  foes  to  fight, 

No  fighting  to  prevail. 

These  were  of  the  Abnaki  race, 

A  little  weakened  band, 

Who  afterwards  grew  numerous 

And  occupied  the  land 

In  various  tribes,  by  dif'rent  names, 

Pawtuckets  to  the  north, 

In  Woburn,  Aberginians,+ 

And  Pequots  to  the  south  ; 

While  as  these  secrets  were  unveiled 

Before  my  wond'ring  view, 

Events  of  hist'ry  came  and  went, 

Which  all  of  us  now  know. 

I  saw  old  Wabanowi  pass 

Into  this  hill  and  then 

The  white  man  came,  his  tribe  dispersed. 

And  he  came  out  again. 


*  Abnaki. 
t  Dakotas. 
X  Prince  calls  them  by  that  name,  and  Sewall  follows  him,  but  is  it  not 

more  likely  that  it  should  be  Aberjonians,  after  the  Indian  name  of 

our  greatest  stream  of  water,  the  Aberjona  River? 


70 


The  *'  Pritty  Girle  "  by  Johnson  called. 

By  others  * '  The  Bereft, ' '  * 

Grew  weak  at  first,  and  very  slow, 

Till  the  last  brave  had  left. 

Then  houses,  churches,  streets  and  stores. 

With  shoe  shops  filled  the  land, 

While  tanneries  which  built  the  town, 

Uprose  on  ev'ry  hand. 

The  iron  horse  with  savage  snort, 

And  lightning  harnessed  on 

To  parlor  street  cars,  showed  at  last 

The  babe  to  city  grown, 

Then  all  at  once  there  was  a  blank 

No  light  upon  it  shone, 

The  whole  had  faded  from  my  sight, 

And  I  was  left  alone. 

I  rose,  and  looked  around  to  see. 

What  all  these  things  could  mean, 

I  pinched  my  finger  forcibly 

And  found  'twas  not  a  dream  ; 

When  suddenly,  far  down  below, 

I  saw  a  man  of  size 

And  agile  step,  swift  climb  the  hill, 

And  stand  before  my  eyes. 

His  giant  form  in  hunting  suit, 

Was  dressed  from  top  to  toe, 

His  deerskin  robe  disclosed  his  form, 

As  he  strode  to  and  fro. 

I  could  not  speak,  my  tongue  was  tied, 

As  he  drew  up  and  said 

In  old  Algonkin  tongue,!  which  then 

It  seemed  I  understood, 


*Woburn  Records,  Vol.  i.  Page  i,  or  Legends  of  Woburn,   First  Series, 

Page  176. 
\  This  was  the  language  of  the  Indians  of  Woburn. 


71 


"Pale-face,  give  ear  !  I've  watched  for  long, 

A  chance  like  this  to  see, 

When  I  could  catch  a  legend  man 

In  search  of  mystery, 

And  tell  him  things  which  I  alone 

Could  e'er  reveal  to  man, 

Just  how  this  Mount  and  Innitou, 

And  fair  Towanda  came." 

He  then  threw  down  his  tomahawk, 

His  arrows,  bow  and  robe, 

And  said  in  oratoric  style, 

"Just  here  was  my  abode  ; 

For  right  below  this  hill  I  dwelt, 

A  chieftain  bold  and  free, 

No  hand  dared  harm  our  village  then, 

Till  Manitou's  decree* 

Imprisoned  me,  deep  in  this  hill, 

My  life  a  time  to  save, 

Till  all  my  tribe  in  this  fair  land. 

Had  left  or  found  a  grave. 

Nansema,  oh  !  my  daughter  dear. 

And  all  the  rest  were  gone, 

When  from  my  sleep  I  woke  to  find, 

I  stood  the  last  alone. 

Awhile  I  gazed,  where  you  now  stand. 

And  saw  the  dismal  sight. 

My  village  gone,  where  spirit  once, 

Took  me  away  by  night. 

But  why  rave  on,  and  waste  my  time. 

To  tell  you  these  things  o'er? 

The  legend's  true,  which  has  come  down, 

You've  written  it  before. 

So  now  you  know,  that  here  now  stands. 


*  Legends  of  Woburu,  First   Series,  Page  i.      Manitou  was  the  "Great 
Spirit,"  or  Chief  Indian  God. 


72 


Wabanowi  the  Seer, 

Who  never  will  again  be  seen 

By  any  mortal  here, 

Except  in  Indian  Summer  days. 

As  once  a  year  I  come,* 

In  early  morn  to  stand  and  gaze 

Upon  my  dear  old  home. 

But  I  could  not,  and  rest  in  peace, 

View  all  these  scenes  so  dear. 

Till  I  had  told  the  tale  of  how 

These  hills  and  lake  came  here. 

Now  as  I  can  but  once  disclose, 

What  I  to  you  will  tell. 

Although  in  future  I  shall  come, 

But  naught  by  speech  reveal ; 

So  as  you  are  a  legend  man, 

Give  ear  to  what  I  say. 

For  what  you  heard  when  quite  a  boy, 

I  verify  today. 

So  to  my  tale,  I  must  be  brief. 

My  time  is  limited, 

I  come  now  to  impart  to  you 

The  secrets  of  the  dead. 

Time  was,  in  ancient  days  long  gone, 

When  this,  a  wilderness. 

Was  a  flat  plain,  where  no  one  lived. 

Till  we  came  from  the  west. 

We  were  of  the  Abnaki  branch 

Of  greater  Algonkin,t 

Defeated  by  the  Dakotas,! 

From  there  we  traveled  then. 

We  settled  here,  and  peaceful  lived, 

*  Legends  of  Woburn,  First  Series,  Page  8. 

t  These  extended  from  the  Mississippi  River  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

X  These  resided  west  of  the  Mississippi  River. 


73 


For  many  a  long  year  past, 

Till  higher  powers  than  us  quarreled, 

And  broke  our  peace  at  last. 

'Twas  said,  there  was  a  Northern  God, 

And  also  Southern  too, 

At  least  our  tribe  believed  all  this. 

Traditions  told  us  so  ; 

And  did  we  not,  all  see  at  night, 

Their  eyes  flash  in  the  air,* 

When  in  the  Fall  and  Winter  cold, 

Their  gaze  extended  here. 

And  then,  when  in  sw^eet  Summer  time, 

With  floods  they  drenched  the  ground. 

Their  fire  arrows  flew  about, t 

And  tore  the  forests  down, 

We  heard  their  roar,  and  saw  their  power,! 

As  in  the  sky  they  fought. 

Sometimes  the  north,  then  southern  God, 

By  turns  the  vict'ry  got. 

And  then  sometimes  they  bit  the  sun,  § 

Sometimes  they  hid  the  moon. 

Which  terrified  us  all  to  see, 

Such  horrid  dark  and  gloom. 

But  then  there  was  another  one, 

A  lovely  Goddess  Squaw,  || 

Who  always  stepped  right  in  between, 

When  they  made  strife  and  war. 

When  she  appeared,  the  roaring  stopped. 

Their  arrows  ceased  to  fly. 

The  sun  came  out,  and  we  all  smiled. 

To  see  the  bright  blue  sky. 

*  Northern  lyights. 

t  Lightniug. 

t  Thunder. 

§  Eclipse. 

II  An  imaginary  Indian  Goddess. 


74 


And  when  the  tj-rant  Northern  God, 

Sent  down  his  ice  and  snow,* 

Which  killed  the  flowers,  and  froze  the  streams, 

As  howling  he  did  go  :  — 

She  always  drove  him  quickly  back 

Far  to  his  Arctic  den. 

And  then  she  sent  the  flowers  of  spring, t 

To  bud  and  bloom  again. 

So  when  the  fiercer  Southern  God,+ 

Burned  with  his  fiery  eye 

The  trees  and  grass,  and  scorched  the  plains, 

As  he  looked  from  the  sky  ; — 

The  Goddess  Squaw  turned  him  too  back. 

Far  to  the  South,  his  home. 

While  soon  the  gentle  showers  she  sent, 

Cured  all  the  harm  he'd  done. 

For  she  was  good,  and  loved  our  tribe. 

She  saved,  you  know,  my  life, 

When  in  the  coming  of  the  whites. 

She  saw  the  future  strife.  § 

And  that  was  why  you  had  no  fight 

With  us,  as  others  near 

Had  with  the  neigh'b'ring  Indian  tribes, 

Who  lived  in  constant  fear. 

For  had  I  not  been  shut  up  then, 

I'd  led  my  warriors  on, 

iVnd  fought  with  you  till  death,  to  save 

Our  honor,  lands  and  home. 

But  now  I  know,  the  Goddess  Squaw  |i 

Did  right  to  prison  me, 


*  winter. 
t  Spring. 
t  Summer. 

§  Legends  ofWoburn,  First  Series,  Page  4. 

II  The  settlers  of  Woburn  always  wondered  why  the  Indians  here  did 
not  fight. 


75 


For  useless  'twould  have  been  to  fight 

'Gainst  Nature's  destiny. 

And  so  5'ou  took  our  places  here, 

As  was  by  fate  decreed, 

While  we,  the  rightful  owners  then, 

Are  numbered  'mong  the  dead. 

All  this  I  say,  as  I  then  felt. 

When  I  lived  on  this  spot, 

And  not  as  I  now  know  it  was, 

For  then  I  knew  it  not. 

But  to  m)'^  tale,  I  rave  again, 

To  tell  3^ou  is  my  aim. 

How  Mianomo  and  Innitou, 

And  fair  Towanda  came. 

Once  on  a  time,  the  Northern  God, 

Called  all  his  warriors  round. 

And  other  Gods  to  help  him  fight 

To  put  the  Southern  down. 

He  loaded  his  huge  Northern  beasts, 

With  ice,  sand,  rocks,  and  then 

Sent  them  down  South,  while  these  great  stones, 

Soon  covered  hill  and  glen. 

These  rocks,  and  beasts  with  monstrous  nails 

Scraped  furrows  as  they  went, 

O'er  hill,  and  ledge,  and  mountain  side, 

'Till  long,  long  years  were  spent,* 

One  monster  traveled  loaded  down, 

To  where  this  mountain  stands, 

While  others  carried  ice  and  stones, 

They'd  brought  from  Arctic  lands. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Southern  God 

His  forces  brought  along. 

Backed  by  the  Sun  God's  fiery  darts, 

To  meet  this  northern  throng, 

*  The  work  of  the  glaciers  is  no  doubt  here  referred  to. 


76 


They  dug  out  earth,  a  good  mile  long,* 

And  piled  it  mountain  high,t 

To  form  a  pit  to  stop  their  march, 

South  of  this  digging  nigh  ; 

The  flashes  from  their  gleaming  ej'es 

Lit  up  the  scene  around. 

And  flaming  bolts  fell  from  the  clouds, 

Which  pierced  the  solid  ground  ; 

The  north  wind  roared,  the  battle  raged, 

Old  earth  was  torn  and  rent. 

The  forces  wavered  to  and  fro. 

Till  all  their  power  was  spent. 

While  these  Gods  fought,  the  Goddess  Squaw 

Stopped  off  their  mad  career, 

She  killed  these  monsters  where  they  stood, 

And  left  them  lying  there  ; 

Their  bodies  huge,  so  loaded  down, 

Formed  all  these  hills  in  sight, 

The  monster  killed  where  we  now  stand. 

Made  Mianomo's  height ; 

The  arctic  snows  brought  on  their  backs, 

With  ice  blocks  large  and  blue, 

Melted  and  ran  into  the  pit. 

Which  formed  sweet  Innitou  ; 

While  the  huge  mountain  taken  out, 

Where  all  the  waters  run, 

Made  broad  Towanda's  lovely  peak, 

A  proof  of  what  was  done." 

The  Chieftain  ceased,  his  keen  eyes  flashed, 

As  he  looked  down  below. 

He  said,  "Oh  could  I  linger  here, 

But  Higher  Power  says  no." 

Then  interruptingly  I  asked, 

*  where  Lake  Inuitou  now  is. 

t  The  pile  is  now  Mount  Towanda. 


77 


"How  did  your  people  live 

While  all  this  strife  was  going  on, 

Who  did  protection  give  ? ' ' 

He  turned,  and  looked  with  rev'rence  up, 

Into  the  clear,  blue  sky, 

"The  Goddess  Squaw,  'twas  her,"  he  said, 

"No  other  help  was  nigh. 

She  always  was  our  guardian  strong. 

Till  you,  with  new  gods  came. 

She  shut  me  up,  and  let  me  out, 

But  ne'er  came  back  again." 

Then  suddenly,  his  stalwart  form 

He  drew  to  its  full  height. 

And  pointed  with  his  finger  south, 

Where  flashed  a  rising  light ; 

"  I  go,"  said  he  "without  delay, 
To  where  Nansema  lived,* 
For  though  I  cannot  see  her  there, 
I'll  hover  o'er  her  grave  ; 

But  in  the  '  Happy  Hunting  Grounds, 't 

Where  now  my  wigwam  is, 

I'll  meet  my  squaw,  Nansema,  too. 

Where  all  my  people  live. 

Oh,  you  yourself,  will  sometime  come, 

From  this  cold  world  of  strife. 

And  with  the  pure  and  happy  ones, 

lycad  our  blest,  perfect  life  ; 

When  there,  you'll  see  no  Indian  race, 

Or  white  face  in  the  throng. 

For  all  the  spirits  have  alike, 

A  shining  heavenly  form  ; 

No  northern,  or  no  southern  god, 


*  Near  Kingston,  R.  I.,  where  she  went  with  Winitihooloo  her  lover. 

See  Legends  of  Woburn,  Page  5. 
t  The  Indian  Heaven. 


78 


Makes  war  or  trouble  there, 

There's  only  One  who  rules  above, 

Where  all  is  bright  and  fair. ' ' 

He  paused,  and  pointed  South  again, 

"  Come,  come  !"  at  last  said  he, 

"I'll  take  you  safe  o'er  Innitou, 

So  come  along  with  me. 

And  when  I  leave  you,  you  will  find 

Still  other  guides  to  show 

You  Woburn  as  it  was  of  old. 

When  it  began  to  grow. 

You'll  see  there  Johnson,  Richardsons, 

With  Converse  who  built  the  first 

House  here  in  town,  Mousall  the  next. 

In  which  the  babe  was  nursed.*" 

With  ease,  he  took  me  in  his  arms. 

And  sprang  up  from  the  peak. 

Then  paused  a  moment  high  above, 

As  if  some  one  to  seek  ; 

When  lo  !  around  us,  I  could  see 

Nansema  hov'ring  o'er. 

With  Goddess  Squaw,  and  Spirits  bright 

T'  escort  us  to  the  shore  ; 

Then  quick  as  flash,  upheld  by  him, 

I  flew  down  through  the  air. 

O'er  giant  trees,  with  bated  breath, 

Till  he  said  "  here  we  are," 

While  right  upon  "  Town  Corner's  "  edge,  t 

There  stood  a  birch  canoe. 

He  sadly  said,  "  this  is  the  last, 

Waiting  to  take  you  through." 

I  stepped  aboard,  the  Chieftain  took 


*  The  babe  here  referred  to  is  the  infant  town  of  Woburn.    See  Woburn 

Rec,  Vol.  I,  P.  I,  also  legends  of  Woburn,  First  Series.  Page  176. 
t  Town  Corner  is  the  old  name  for  the  Cove  at  the  North  end  of  the  Lake 


79 


The  paddle  in  his  grasp, 

Round  "  Wabisi  "  *  we  swiftly  sped 

To  Southern  end  at  last. 

But  as  we  passed  the  foam  fringed  isle, 

A  swan  with  wings  of  light, 

Rose  from  the  deep  close  by  our  side, 

Bowed  low,  and  sank  from  sight. t 

I  landed  safe,  and  turned  to  thank 

The  Chief  for  what  he'd  done. 

But  escort,  Chieftain  and  canoe 

Had  gone,  I  was  alone. 

Oh  when  the  mind,  strained  to  full  height. 

With  wonders  it  has  seen. 

Is  suddenly  left  all  alone 

With  fibres  quivering, — 

The  least  sound  startles  ev'ry  nerve. 

The  ear  is  sensitive, 

While  in  the  gloomy  forest  dark. 

E'en  silence  oppressive  is  ; 

Just  so  was  I,  left  on  the  shore 

Of  wild,  sweet  Innitou, 

The  distant  scream,  the  smothered  noise 

Suggesting  Indian  foe, — 

Made  timid  nature  startled  jump. 

And  peer  among  the  trees. 

Till  wolf's  long  howl,  and  panther's  scream, 

Borne  on  the  Autumn  breeze, — 

Awakened  me  to  the  full  sense 

Of  what  could  I,  unarmed. 

Do  should  a  bear  or  catamount 

Be  suddenly  alarmed  ; — 

I  seized  a  club,  and  turned  around 


*  Wabisi  is  the  Indian  name  of  the  island,  and  means  a  Swan. 
|-  See  I^egends  of  Woburn,  First  Series,  Page  66. 


80 


Prepared  to  fight  for  life, 

And  pulled  from  out  my  pants'  pocket, 

An  ancient  Hunting  knife, 

How  it  got  there,  I  could  not  tell, 

I  ne'er  saw  it  before, 

'Twas  made  of  flint,  ground  sharp,  perhaps 

The  Chieftain  put  it  there  ; — 

When  from  below,  just  where  the  brook 

Ran  out  of  Innitou, 

A  voice  in  strong  old  English  roared, 

"  Pray,  stranger,  who  are  you? 

And  why  do  you  so  frightened  stand, 

With  good  friends  working  near?" 

I  turned  my  eyes,  and  saw  close  to, 

All  the  white  men  were  there. 

Who  Wabonowi  said  I'd  see. 

As  other  guides  to  show 

Me  Woburn,  as  of  old  it  was, 

When  it  began  to  grow;" 

There  Johnson  stood.  Graves,  Richardsons 

With  Converse,  Mousall,  all. 

Building  a  bridge  across  the  brook. 

Below  the  waterfall 

Which  formerly  was  there  before 

The  waves  came  rushing  forth. 

Through  the  wide  gap  these  settlers  made 

To  drain  the  meadows  north.* 

"Aha  !"  said  they,  "we  heard  from  you, 

E're  you  came  us  to  seek, 

We  saw  5'ou  with  an  Indian  talk, 

On  Mianomo's  peak. 

We  also  saw  you  cross  the  lake. 

And  land  upon  this  shore. 

So  please  sit  down  upon  this  log, 

*  The  meadows  at  the  north  end  were  anciently  a  part  of  the  lake. 


81 


And  we  will  tell  you  more." 

They  then  brought  out  some  venison, 

With  Indian  bannock  brown, 

And  said,  "  we  just  have  started  here 

To  settle  a  new  town." 

"  But  now  my  '  bull's  eye  '*  says  'tis  twelve," 

Quoth  Johnson  with  a  smile, 

"  Let's  stop  off  work,  so  be  our  guest. 

We'll  rest  and  eat  awhile, 

Our  meal  is  plain,  of  plates  we've  none, 

But  birch  bark  fills  the  bill, 

There's  water  plenty  in  the  pond. 

So  take  hold  with  a  will  ; 

And  while  we're  eating,  we  would  like 

To  have  you  tell  us  who 

That  Indian  was  with  whom  you  talked. 

And  what  he  said  to  you  ?" 

I  told  the  whole,  then  all  cried  out, 

' '  Wabanowi  the  seer  ?t 

Why  that  is  very  odd  indeed 

How  you  should  find  him  there. 

We  knew  into  the  mount  he  went, 

But  never  heard  that  he 

Came  out  again  and  roamed  about 

For  no  one  did  him  see. 

We  knew  his  name  and  why  he  left. 

But  nothing  of  his  power. 

So  you  have  told,  us  very  much 

We  never  knew  before. 

'Twas  wonder  to  us  all  to  find 

The  Indians  did  not  fight, 

We  took  their  lands,  they  skulked  away. 

As  if  w^e  had  the  right. 


*  A  bull's  eye  is  an  old  English  watch. 

t  See  I,egends  of  Woburn,  First  Series,  Page  i. 


82 


There  was  no  Sachem  we  could  find. 

Or  one  with  whom  to  treat, 

We  simply  came  and  settled  here. 

But  found  no  foe  to  meet. 

So  that  explains  the  reason  why, 

That  when  the  Pequots  fought, 

Pawtuckets,  num'rous  other  tribes. 

The  white's  destruction  sought, 

No  foe  appeared,  no  night  alarms. 

Or  silent  arrow  flew. 

While  all  around,  with  savage  foes, 

The  whites  scarce  quiet  knew. 

For  Wabanowi's  master  brain 

Was  still  as  death  in  sleep 

In  3^onder  mount,  his  powerful  arm 

Was  chained  in  spirit's  keep." 

Then  Richardson  and  Johnson  cried. 

While  all  the  rest  chimed  in, 

As  axes,  shovels,  mattocks  fell 

In  heaps  with  rattling  din  : 

"Well,  stranger,  now  that  dinner's  o'er, 

And  lyong  Bridge  finished  is,* 

We'll  even  take  a  holiday 

And  tell  you  how  we  live. 

We'll  show  you  Johnson's,  Converse'  pet.t 

She's  weak  as  weak  can  be. 

But  Johnson  is  a  careful  nurse, 

And  rocking  her  is  he. 

In  houses  of  two  other  ones, 

Undaunted  nurses  strong,  | 

Who  built  the  first  two  cradles  here, 


*  Long  Bridge  was   the  second  built  in  town,  in  August,  1641,  the  first 

was  built  in  February  of  the  same  year  over  the  Aberjona  River. 
t  The  infant  town. 
X  Edward  Converse  and  John  Mousall. 


83 


To  help  the  babe  along, 

On  Aberjona  Falls  there's  one, 

By  Converse,  first  house  here, 

Mousall's  the  next,  on  Hilly  Way, 

With  others  starting  near, 

A  central  spot  to  build  a  church* 

By  search  has  now  been  found, 

The  plan  is  made,  the  money  raised. 

The  lumber's  on  the  ground  ; 

We  have  a  grist  mill  at  the  falls. 

And  saw  mill  running  near,  t 

Why  man,  the  verj'  cakes  you  ate. 

Were  made  from  meal  ground  there  ; 

Already  we  have  lots  laid  out, 

An  acre  for  sixpence, 

A  highway  also  has  been  planned. 

But  not  a  single  fence, 

We've  made  some  laws,  and  Johnson  here 

Has  drawn  a  plot  of  all. 

We  also  chose  him  for  town  clerk. 

At  meeting  late  last  fall  ; 

And,  by  the  way,  a  secret,  man, 

We'll  tell  you,  iiiter  nos, 

We  scarcely  dare  divulge  it  yet, 

So  mum's  the  word,  keep  close  : — 

We  mean,  instead  of  being  tail 

To  Mother  Charlestown's  kite. 

To  have  a  town  all  by  ourselves, 

We  think  we've  planned  it  right ; 

We  changed  our  site,  as  English  like 


*  This  church  was  on  the  Common,   towards  the  west  corner,  facing 
south.    See  frontispiece. 

t  Edward  Converse's  at  the  pond  in  present  Winchester,  on  Main  street. 


84 


To  build  upon  a  hill, 

Naming  it  from  our  great  men's  town, 

And  for  its  wood  fringed  rill.* 

One  marriage  we  have  had  thus  soon, 

One  glorious  baby  comes, 

One  mill  is  up,  some  houses  built, 

We've  lots  for  church  and  homes. 

So  hurrah  !  let  the  Patrons  doubt,  f 

And  leave  the  babe  to  clowns 

As  they  think  us,  I  but  of  such  stuff 

It  is  that  that  God  makes  towns. 

We've  Converse  with  us  for  captain 

If  fighting's  to  be  done. 

Or  with  Johnson  in  Council  hall. 

To  work  in  unison. 

'Twas  the  lyord's  hand  that  brought  to  pass 

These  wonders  we  now  tell , 

Hov\'  by  'weak  means'  this  baby  town. 

Has  got  along  so  well. 

The  Patrons  say  in  very  fear, 

'She'll  never  upward  rise,' 

For  cash  we've  none,  the  Patrons  fail 

To  stop  the  poor  Girle'sH  cries. 

So  we  conclude,  that  if  she  rise, 

'Mongst  ladies  have  a  station, 

It  must  be  done  b}^  Parentce  brains. 

Not  by  her  education." 


*  Thnt  is  from  Wobiirn,  Beds.,  England,  and  from  the  Aberjona  River. 

t  These  patrons  were  NoweU,  Sims  and  Sedgwick,  all  of  whom  by  this 
time  had  backed  out. 

X  See  Johnson's  verse,  line  6. 

II  See  Johnson's  famous  verse,  line  i6. 


85 


"Come,  come,"  said  Mousall,  "I  should  say 

He'd  rather  see  our  Pet, 

Than  hear  us  talk  here  in  the  woods, 

'Tis  hours  to  sunset  yet. 

You've  told  him  all  that  he  would  see 

If  he  went  miles  around. 

We'll  take  him  up  to  my  own  house,* 

And  round  the  church  lot  ground. 

Here  Johnson,  as  we  all  well  know, 

Your  mare's  the  best  in  town. 

Just  trot  her  out,  and  let  him  ride, 

While  we  all  show  him  round." 

So  Johnson  trotted  up  his  beast. 

That  stood  quite  passively, 

Her  saddle  was  a  blanket  tied 

With  wisp  of  willow  tree, 

From  her  mild  eye  there  beamed  a  look, 

At  once  so  good  and  sweet, 

It  seemed  to  say,  "get  on  my  back 

And  take  the  cushioned  seat ;" 

But  when  upon  that  mare  I  got, 

And  started  for  the  town. 

She  jumped  with  all  four  feet  at  once. 

As  if  to  throw  me  down, 

She  bucked  and  snorted,  fiercely  kicked. 

And  reared  high  up  in  air, 

While  Gilpin-like,  I  grabbed  her  mane. 

In  utter,  wild  despair. 

And  then  she  started  on  a  run. 

She  jumped,  sprung,  snorted,  whined, 

Then  dodged  'mong  rocks  and  trees  till  she 

Had  left  all  far  behind. 


*  On  HiHy  Way,  now  Montvale  Avenue,  opposite  the  rink. 


86 


I'd  ridden  oft   in   hunting 

grounds, 
Indian  ponies  six  or  more. 
But  never  in  my  life  had  I 
Seen  such  a  fiend  before, 
I  struggled  hard  to  sit  up- 
right. 
But  when  I  straightened  up, 
That    plaguey    beast    still 

wilder  ran, 
So  I  was  forced  to  stop. 
I  hastily  made  up  my  mind, 


As  fast  the  jumps  increased 

I'd  Gilpinized  enough  to  see 

The  town  on  such  a  beast. 

At  last  her  furious  pace  brought  me 

To  where  the  lumber  pile 

On  Woburn  Green  brought  her  up  sharp, 

And  stopped  her  for  awhile. 

Just  then  the  rest,  in  rattling  gait, 

Rode  up  and  shouted  "whoa," 

Says  Johnson,  "  I  ne'er  knew  that  mare 

To  do  such  tricks  before." 

Then  Richardson,  he  looked  and  roared, 

' '  No  wonder  that  she  kicks. 

That  hunting  knife  the  Chief  gave  you, 

Her  back  with  vengeance  pricks, 

For  by  some  means,  the  point  has  worked 

Quite  through  and  out  the  sheath. 

While  as  you  sit,  you  press  its  point 

Far  in  her  flesh  beneath. 

But  now  as  you  have  seen  our  town. 

Without  our  friendly  aid, 

I  realty  think  you'd  better  not 


87 


Ride  further  on  that  jade." 

And  then  she  kicked  and  squealed  again, 

At  such  a  furious  rate, 

That  all  declined  to  venture  near 

While  in  her  present  state  ; 

Till  finally  she  made  a  plunge, 

A  wildly  vicious  lurch. 

Which  landed  me  right  on  the  boards 

They'd  bought  to  build  their  church. 

And  then  she  snorted,  pranced  around, 

As  on  my  back  I  lay. 

"  You've  seen  enough  for  once,"  she  said, 

"  So  come  some  other  da3\" 

I  started  up  in  wild  affright. 

But  sight  did  not  reveal 

The  horse  I  rode,  the  men  I  saw, 

Or  boards  on  which  I  fell. 

While  in  their  place  I  saw  below. 

By  sunset's  golden  light, 

Our  lovely  town,  and  found  that  I 

Had  dozed  upon  the  height. 

Then  first  I  realized  the  fact, 

That  'twas  that  rich  mince  pie 

I  ate,  which  strung  my  senses  up. 

And  made  my  fancy  fly. 

So,  then,  instead  of  Johnson's  horse, 

A  beast  with  record  fair, 

I  rode  a  nag  found  on  the  mount, 

A  genuine  Night  Mare. 

A   CAUTION. 

Reader,  give  ear  and  list  to  me, 

While  I  a  caution  give. 

You  must  not  for  a  moment  fail 


88 


The  Legend  to  believe, 

For  how  the  lakes  and  mounts  were  formed, 

Time  through  the  Indian  mind, 

Has  faithfully  sent  down  the  tale, 

Like  others  of  its  kind. 

Therefore,  far  as  that  story  goes, 

The  tale,  though  veiled  a  bit, 

Is  just  as  it  came  down  to  us. 

But  dreamed  to  heigthen  it ; 

While  after  that  old  conte' s  said, 

The  statements  of  the  rest, 

Historically 's  quite  correct, 

Though  clothed  in  fancy  dress. 

So  having  perfect  confidence. 

That  you  can  surely  tell. 

An  honest  horse  from  a  night  mare, 

And  truth  from  joke  as  well, 

I  leave  the  story  in  your  care, 

To  please  an  idle  hour, 

And  show  how  science  helps  us  on, 

When  we  invoke  her  power. 

One  caution  more,  allow  me  please, 
When  e'er  you  go  to  ride 
Horseback  like  me,  to  see  the  sights, 
Don't  get  the  beast  I  tried  ; 
But  go  to  Jones'  or  to  Brooks' 
For  one  with  record  fair, 
But  never  choose  a  miyice-pie  horse. 
A  horrible  Night  Mare. 


89 


Traditions  of  the  Middlesex 
Canal  and  Lake  Innitou. 


^N  April  2 2d,   1802,  the  first  boats  were  run  on 
the  famous  Middlesex  Canal ;    while  in  1803 

^      it  was  opened  for  business. 

The  building  of  this  canal  marked  a 
great  progress  in  transportation.  Up  to  then,  no  easy, 
cheap  inland  way  of  communication  for  conveyance  of 
bulky  goods,  existed  here  between  the  interior  and  the 
seaboard,  the  business  is  freight  before  that  time, 
being  accomplished  by  large  numbers  of  four  and  six 
horse  covered  baggage-wagons  toiling  slowly  over  the 
hills  in  summer,  and  by  caravans  of  two-horse  puugs 
in  winter,  while  lumber  went  by  sea. 

The  new  route  connected  the  waters  of  the  Merri- 
mack River  at  Chelmsford,  with  those  of  the  Charles 
River  at  Boston  harbor,  being  recognized  at  once 
as  a  great  improvement. 

This  gave  the  tanners  of  Woburn  an  easy  way  of 
obtaining  their  bark  from  new  sources. 

The  corporation  was  a  strong  one.  Col.  lyoammi 
Baldwin  of  Woburn  being  its  leading  spirit. 


90 


It  was  at  lyake  Iimitou  or  Horn  Pond,  that  the 
long  sharp  descent  presented  the  greatest  engineering 
difficulties  on  the  route,  no  other  way  of  overcoming 
the  natural  obstructions  was  possible,  except  bj'  estab- 
lishing a  series  of  locks,  a  great  undertaking  then,  for 
three  double  ones  were  necessary. 

The  first  was  of  wood,  located  west  of  the  present 
Canal  street,  then  the  tow-path  for  the  horses,  who 
drew  the  boats  by  a  long  rope,  and  nearly  opposite  the 
present  residence  of  Mr.  F.  Chandler  Parker.     Below 
this  was  a  broad  basin,  recognizable  today,  made  as  a 
reservoir  for  surplus  water  to   be   used   when   much 
locking  through  suddenl}'  occurred  ;  then  followed  the 
second,  also  <»f  wood,  located  just  across   the  street 
from  the  present  entrance  to  the  Hudson  estate,  while 
the  third,  constructed  of  hammered  granite,  was  nearly 
opposite  the  foot  of  Pond  street ;     it  was  here  that  the 
surplus  water  escaping,  made  a  pretty  stream,  tumb- 
ling and  foaming  down  a  rocky  glen  overhung  with 
trees,  to  the  pond.      This  last  series  was  for  a  long 
time  tended  by  Mr.  Jonathan  Clough  who  is  now^  living, 
Capt.  Elijah  Wyman  for  a  time  held  the  same  position. 
Another  spot  presenting  unusual  barriers  to  the  work, 
was  where  Kilb}^  street  crosses  the  deep  cut  at   the 
house   of   Mr.  Jacob    Wright ;    this   marks   the   spot 
where  "  Corporal  Wright's  Bridge"  once  stood,  over 
the  most  expensive  cut,  and  difficult  point  for  the  pas- 
sage of  boats  on  the  whole  line,  for  at  the  sharp  curve 
just   below   the   bridge,  the  long  clumsy  craft  could 
scarcely  get  round  quick  enough   to    avoid   running 


•^  - 


o 


^^4^-vr^/ 
":^. 


CD     g 


CiO   Qi 


o 


91 


against  the  wall ;  indeed  only  one  boat  at  a  time  could 
pass. 

The  combination  of  the  lake  with  its  fine  scenery, 
the  then  famous  locks,  the  commanding  view  from  the 
hill  over  water,  mountains  and  forest,  with  the  novelty 
of  seeing  the  process  of  "  locking  "  the  boats,  and  the 
rafts  of  logs  ' '  shot  "  by  "  shot  "  through,  the  pleasure 
sails  on  the  lake,  and  on  the  canal  by  the  Packet 
Boat,  Gen.  Sullivan,  with  its  nearness  to  Boston, 
early  attracted  public  attention  to  the  spot. 

When  the  Canal  went  into  operation,  it  became 
necessary  to  have  a  tender  for  each  set  of  locks.  Mr. 
Samuel  Wyatt  tended  the  upper  one  for  several  years. 

An  Inn  also  had  to  be  provided,  as  a  place  of  en- 
tertainment for  the  boatmen,  and  others  doing  busi- 
ness on  the  Canal,  so  the  Company  verj-  early  built  a 
small  one  (see  plate)  on  the  east  side  of  the  ' '  tow- 
path  ' '  opposite  the  upper  lock  ;  it  had  an  open  shed 
for  the  horses,  and  a  bar-room.  This  Inn  was  the 
first  at  Horn  Pond.  About  1832,  Mr.  Joshua  Stod- 
dard was  appointed  superintendent.  He  kept  the  inn 
(shown  in  the  plate),  tended  that  lock,  and  had 
charge  of  the  rest. 

The  process  of  "locking  through"  was  as  follows 
viz.:  The  great  gates  at  the  upper  section  being  open 
while  those  in  the  middle  and  at  the  lower  end  were 
shut,  the  boat  from  above  passed  in  on  a  level,  the 
gates  being  then  closed  behind  her,  the  flood  gates 
in  the  middle  w^ere  then  opened,  the  water  ran  through 
into  the  lower  section  till  it  was  on  a  level  with  that  in 


92 


the  upper  one,  the  great  gates  in  the  middle  being 
then  opened,  the  boat  passed  into  the  lower  section, 
the  gates  were  closed  behind  her,  the  flood  gates  at 
the  lower  end  then  being  opened,  the  water  in  the 
lower  lock  became  level  with  the  canal  below,  the 
gates  were  then  swung  back,  while  the  boat  passed 
along  to  the  next  lock,  or  on  its  journey.  In  going 
up,  the  process  was  simply  reversed. 

The  rafts  of  logs,  sometimes  an  eighth  of  a  mile 
long,  were  in  "Shots,"  that  is  in  sections  of  several 
logs  held  together  by  a  binder  at  each  end;  these  shots 
were  connected  by  slab  couplings,  and  were  locked 
through  singly,  while  to  pass  the  whole  raft  took  a 
long  time,  so  long  indeed,  that  several  boats  were 
often  impatiently  waiting  their  turns,  the  boatmen 
amusing  themselves  in  the  meantime  with  blowing 
their  horns,  or  having  a  game  of  "old  sledge"  with 
cards  on  the  top  of  a  box  or  barrel.  The  Packet  Boat 
Gen.  Sullivan,  carrying  passengers  only,  had  the 
right  of  way. 

The  boys  used  to  have  fine  fun  in  swimming  close 
up  to  the  lower  gates,  when  a  boat  was  coming  down, 
and  "treading  water"  or  "floating  on  their  backs" 
waiting  for  the  flood  gates  to  be  opened  ;  when  this 
was  done,  the  powerful  streams  rushing  out  would 
tumble  them  over  and  over  like  frogs,  amid  the 
screeching  and  laughter  of  the  little  swimmers,  as 
they  ' '  brought  up ' '  some  distance  below.  The 
author  remembers  many  a  pleasant  hour  spent  by  him 
in  this  manner  there. 


93 


Before  1824  a  second  inn  was  built,  somewhat 
like  the  first,  only  much  larger  ;  it  was  situated  on  the 
east  side  of  the  tow  path,  opposite  the  middle  lock, 
about  where  the  entrance  gates  of  the  Hudson  estate 
now  are. 

This  was  kept  b}-  Mr.  Samuel  Wyman  for  several 
years.  On  October  21,  1824,  the  Freedom  Lodge  of 
Masons  was  consecrated  in  the  Meeting  House,  and 
Mr.  Gillis,  then  landlord,  provided  the  dinner  in  the 
Pavilion  at  the  Locks,  then  called  "Gillis  Locks;" 
while  the  tickets  were  for  sale  at  the  bar  of  ' '  Woods' 
Tavern,"  in  Woburn,  where  the  National  Bank  Block 
now  stands,  over  which,  in  the  second  story,  the 
Lodge  had  its  lodge-room.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Wait 
tended  this  lock  for  many  years. 

As  the  business  increased,  it  became  necessary  to 
have  a  still  larger  and  more  pretentious  place  of  enter- 
tainment for  guests  and  boatmen,  so  the  Company 
erected  a  third,  just  south  of  the  site  of  the  first,  now 
the  residence  of  Mr.  F.  Chandler  Parker.  This  was  kept 
by  Mr.  Stoddard.  It  had  two  wings,  both  of  which 
have  since  been  moved,  and  fitted  for  dw^ellings. 
This  third  Inn  had  about  twenty  sleeping  rooms  with 
accommodations  for  quite  a  large  number  of  boarders. 
Boatmen  took  their  meals  there,  and  the  number  of 
pleasure  seekers  increased. 

The  boats  were  drawn  each  by  a  single  horse, 
walking  on  the  "  tow  path  "  close  to  the  water  and 
attached  by  a  long  rope  to  the  boat  amidships.  The 
Packet   Boat    Gen.    Sullivan,  which   had  a  carpeted 


94 


cabin  and  several  berths,  with  two  horses  tandem, 
went  on  a  slow  trot.  All  the  craft  carried  long  tin 
horns  which  the  boatmen  blew  when  approaching  a 
lock. 

These  boats  were  long,  flat-bottomed  scows  with 
square  ends,  steered  bv  a  broad  bladed  oar  running 
out  into  the  water  quite  a  distance  astern,  and  carried 
heavy  loads  of  miscellaneous  goods,  covered  with  can- 
vas in  stormy  weather.  As  there  was  usually  no 
driver,  the  helmsman  generally  had  a  pile  of  small 
stones  or  apples  near,  to  "  touch  up  "  the  horse  with. 

The  canal  abounded  with  fish,  pickerel,  hornpouts, 
breams  and  eels,  its  banks  with  game.  Its  waters 
being  almost  milk  warm  in  summer,  while  its  bottom 
was  mostly  sandy,  the  stream  made  the  best  of  bathing 
places.  In  Winter  its  long  reaches  of  ice  afforded  the 
finest  of  skating  for  the  boys.  Benjamin  Wood  and 
the  author  on  January  29,  1857,  skated  on  it  to  Bos- 
ton, in  one  hour  and  ten  minutes,  to  witness  the  cut- 
ting out  of  the  Britannia  by  Major  Thomas  J.  Peirce, 
and  her  going  to  sea  that  day,  seven  miles  through 
the  channel,  then  cut  to  open  water,  in  the  remarkably 
severe  winter  of  1856-7,  returning  by  the  canal  the 
same  evening. 

On  the  line  of  the  canal  in  Wobum,  were  several 
places  worth  noting.  Samuel  Abbott  had  a  lumber 
yard  with  a  wharf,  on  the  east  side,  at  the  present 
Public  lyibrary  grounds.  John  Cummings  had  a  bark 
house  on  the  west  side  of  the  basin  at  the  junction  of 
Winn  and   Middlesex  streets,  while  Abijah  Thomp- 


95 


son's  was  on  Canal  street,  on  the  east  side,  just  above 
the  upper  lyOck.  A  great  rock  or  boulder  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  canal,  on  what  is  now  Winn  street, 
at  foot  of  Franklin,  afforded  a  noted  bathing  place  for 
the  boys,  who  dove  oflf  from  a  notch  in  its  side.  A 
second,  very  much  like  it,  was  on  the  west  side,  near 
the  "Black  House,"  where  boj^s  from  far  and  near 
resorted. 

Another  celebrated  place  was  the  great  cut  just 
above  "New  Bridge  Village,"  on  the  road  to  Wil- 
mington. This  was  similiar  to  the  one  at  "Corporal 
Wright's  Bridge,"  at  present  Kilby  street,  although 
not  so  difficult  a  place  for  the  boats  to  pass  through. 
When  the  workmen  appeared  at  this  point  to  com- 
mence digging,  John  Converse,  then  owner  of  the 
land,  a  resolute  old  fellow  who  once  had  been  a  priva- 
teersman,  and  who  would  do  just  what  he  said,  regard- 
less of  consequences,  appeared  gun  in  hand,  and 
threatened  to  shoot  the  first  man  who  dared  to  stick  a 
pick  into  the  ground  until  he  was  paid  what  he  asked 
for  his  land.  The  men  quailed  under  his  determined 
eye  and  leveled  musket,  and  it  was  onl)^  after  Col. 
Baldwin  had  paid  him  his  price,  that  the  belligerent 
owner  would  allow  the  work  to  proceed. 

In  Wilmington,  above  this  cut,  was  a  novel  piece 
of  work.  A  viaduct  had  to  be  built  for  the  passage  of 
the  water  over  the  Shawsheen  River,  the  ruins  of 
which  exist  today.  This  presents  so  fine  and  roman- 
tic a  scene,  that  a  plate  of  it  has  been  inserted. 

There  were  four  basins  on  the  canal  in  Woburn. 


96 


viz  :  One  between  the  upper  and  middle  locks  ;  a  sec- 
ond just  back  of  the  Public  Library  ;  the  third  just 
below  the  foot  of  Franklin  Street ;  the  fourth  at  the 
present  junction  of  Winn  and  Middlesex  Streets  ; 
while  just  above  this  fourth  was  a  sluice  to  carry  off 
the  surplus  water. 

These  basins  were  constructed  at  convenient 
spots,  just  above  the  locks,  as  reservoirs  to  hold  an 
additional  supply  of  water,  for  use  when  much  "lock- 
ing through"  was  suddenly  done,  as  often  happened. 

In  time,  Horn  Pond  became  a  noted  resort,  while 
the  demands  for  better  accommodations  became  so 
great,  that  a  fourth  hotel,  larger  and  finer,  "The 
Horn  Pond  House,"  now  the  Hudson  Mansion,  was 
built  by  private  enterprise,  on  the  hill  east  of  the 
middle  lock,  which,  for  a  long  time,  was  frequented 
by  tourists  and  the  public  from  far  and  near.  John 
Tilton  was  the  first  landlord. 

Here  in  the  summer,  were  large  numbers  of 
boarders.  Parties  from  Boston  and  elsewhere  came 
for  the  day.  Balls,  parades,  water  parties  and  merry 
makings  succeeded  each  other  in  rapid  succession. 
Here  came  Boston's  Military.  The  Pulaski  Guards, 
New  England  Guards,  the  Tigers  with  their  peculiar 
yell,  the  Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillerj^  Company, 
the  Charlestown  lyight  Infantry,  all  crack  organiza- 
tions at  the  time,  with  others  from  a  distance.  These 
often  encamped  on  the  flat,  back  of  the  Hotel.  With 
them  came  Kendall's  Boston  Brass  Band,  and  the 
Brigade  Band  of  Boston,  with  John  Bartlett,  the  finest 


97 


cornet  player  our  State  has  5'et  produced.  Here 
crowds  gathered  and  listened,  spell  bound,  as  the  cele- 
brated Ned.  Kendall,  with  his  gold  Eb  bugle,  played 
the  solo  in  "  Wood  Up,"  or  in  the  more  difficult  one, 
in  the  "Blues'  Quickstep,"  both  composed  expressly 
for  him  by  John  Holloway,  one  of  the  members  of  his 
band,  in  a  style  never  before  or  since  equalled;  while 
at  the  table,  he,  with  keen,  commanding  tone,  would 
"lead  off"  in  Kendall's  Hornpipe,  Kitty  Fisher's 
jig,  delicate  Strathspeys,  reels,  drones,  and  other 
pieces  suitable  for  each  toast,  while  that  famous  band 
at  once  rendered  the  best  of  accompaniments.  This 
was  done  off-hand,  without  warning,  the  members 
watching  him,  while  his  brother  "Jim"  with  his  Eb 
ophicliede,  would  often  play  in  unison  in  the  same 
style,  an  octave  lower. 

These  impromptu  bursts  were  so  well  understood, 
that  at  once  the  full  strength  of  harmon}'-,  set  off  these 
gems  so  finely  played  by  the  famous  artists ;  while  in 
the  street,  the  commanding,  fine  cutting  tones  of  the 
brothers,  dominated  the  whole  organization  like  an 
inspiration,  so  that  the  quicksteps  were  rendered  with 
a  decision,  power  and  accuracy  remarkable  in  the  his- 
tory of  street  music,  as  w'as  shown  by  the  marching  of 
the  companies.  The  Brigade  Band,  too,  was  inimi- 
table in  its  peculiar  stj^le.  It  had  in  its  ranks,  A.  F. 
Knight,  the  leader,  a  celebrated  Eb  clarinet  player 
and  his  two  brothers,  John  Bartlett  with  his  cornet 
made  expressly  for  him,  and  of  which  no  other  speci- 
men existed.     Burdett,  the  composer  and  arranger  for 


98 


the  band,  Burdakin,  the  noted  trombone  pla^^er,  with 
many  others  of  the  best  talent  in  the  country.  The 
rapid  execution  by  this  clarinet  band  almost  exceeded 
belief,  even  the  slide  trombones,  of  which  there  w^ere 
five,  emulated  the  rest  when  the  music  called  for  it. 
The  whip-like  crack,  the  exact  staccato  passages  and 
chromatic  runs,  the  keen,  cutting  harmony,  loud  yet 
smooth,  or  low  5^et  full,  exceeded  all  other  playing. 

At  table,  Bartlett  with  his  ''Cock  Trumpet;' 
electrified  all  hearers,  by  finely  given  andantes,  mas- 
terly execution,  and  remarkable  tone,  while  his  almost 
superhuman  tongueing,  brilliant,  smooth,  rapid,  each 
note  standing  out  clearly  by  itself,  like  beads  falling 
down  a  wire,  placed  him  far  be^'ond  all  competition, 
the  whole  band  following  up  with  the  most  finished 
accompaniments,  delivered  "off-hand"  or  "  Vamped 
in,"  in  a  mannerpeculiar  to  the  period.  In  fact,  these 
two  bands  could  not  be  compared  any  more  than  two 
first-class  singers  or  orators,  for  each  was  supreme  in 
its  own  peculiar  style. 

Canterbury,  Si  Smith  and  John  Robbins,  the  three 
best  fifers  the  state  ever  produced,  in  a  time,  too,  when 
fifing  was  a  fine  art,  wnth  "Dan"  Simpson,  "Old 
Put  "  and  Benjamin  F.  Wyerof  Woburn,  unquestion- 
ably the  three  best  drummers  in  the  State,  putting  to 
utter  shame  the  attempts  of  today,  both  in  tuning 
their  drums,  and  in  clean  execution,  were  with  these 
organizations.  At  this  time  the  grounds  around  the 
hotel  and  also  at  the  pond  were  fitted  up  with  all 
kinds  of  conveniences.       There  was  a  large  pavilion 


99 


on  the    hill    near   the   wharf  for  dancing  parties,  and 
another   one    at   the   hotel.       In   the   pines  near   the 
wharf,  were  two  bowling  alleys  in  the  open  air.     On 
the  island  was  a  large  building,  since  moved  to  and 
made  part  of  the  Dea.  Tidd  house,  Main  street,  with 
other   bowling    alleys    and    a   good  restaurant,  while 
numerous  boats,  some  quite  large,  carr^nng  a  dozen 
or  more,  were  at  the  wharf  or  in  use.     A  boat  ferry 
also  ran  constantly  to  the  island  to  carry  the  crowd 
resorting  there.     Here  also  was  often  seen  our  veteran 
military    company,    the  Woburn  Mechanic  Phalanx, 
pride  of   our  town,  and  of  the  Brigade,  with  the  Wo- 
burn Marion  Band,   25  men.   State  Band  for  this  Bri- 
gade,  led  by  the  famous  Adam  Kurek,  an  unrivaled 
writer,  organizer  and  piccolo  player,  who  always  had 
a  succession  of  novelties  on  hand  ready  for  any  occa- 
sion.    This  band  comprised  in  its  ranks,  Adam  Kurek, 
leader   and   director,    A.    B.    Winn,    afterwards   first 
trombone  in  Gen.   Sherman's  headquarter' s  band,  in 
his  celebrated  march  to  the  sea,  Mr.  Hutchinson  one 
of  the  Hutchinson  family,  a  cornetist  of  repute,  Jacob 
Kendall,  whose  ophicliede  never  failed  to  execute  the 
most   difficult   passages ;    the   noted    slide    trombone 
quartette,  consisting  of    A.   B,  Winn,  Henry  Wiley, 
Richard  M.   Gage  and  John  F.   Parker;   the  equally 
noted   mixed    quartette,   P.   L,.  Converse    and  Josiah 
Parker,  cornets,  with  Henry  Wilej',  tenor  trombone, 
and   Jacob  Kendall,  bass  ophicliede,  which  last,  as  a 
squad,  with  Robbins  and  Wyer  as  fifer  and  drummer, 
was  constantly  employed.     I^orenzo  Winship,  George 


100 


Richardson,  James  Parker,  E.  C.  Kimball,  first  leader. 
Waterman  Kimball,  Marshall  Tidd,  with  the  Deland 
brothers  and  A.  H.  Perkins,  noted  musicians,  J.  W. 
Richardson,  celebrated  bass  player,  John  H.  Wright 
and  J.  R.  Gerr}^  all  fine  players,  were  members  of  the 
organization. 

This  band  in  the  Summer,  played  regularly  for 
the  hotel,  often  in  the  evenings,  performing  in  boats 
on  the  lake,  or  stationed  in  the  pavilion,  while  fire- 
works shot  up  from  the  island. 

At  this  time  the  Warren  Academy  was  a  flourish- 
ing institution  with  a  hundred  or  more  scholars. 
These  were  frequently  at  the  pond,  which  sometimes 
gave  rise  to  breaches  of  discipline,  which  it  would 
seem  are  inherent  in  human  nature. 

On  one  occasion,  at  noon,  a  party  of  the  girls  and 
boys  in  a  large  sailboat  was  sailing  along  on  the 
westerly  side  close  to  the  shore,  having   a   delicious 


tp-----^'=  .  time,  when  suddenly 

~^^  ^^-.^■^f  all  were  startled  by 
hearing  the  bell  tol- 
ij  ling  for  the  after- 
noon session.  In- 
stantly the  helm  was  put  hard-a-port,  and  all  sail 
made,  but  in  spite  of  exertion,  the  delinquents  entered 
school  wet  with  perspiration  nearly  an  hour  late. 
The  master,  Mr.  Aaron  K.  Hathaway,  kindest  of 
teachers,  astonished  at  the  unusual  occurrence,  sternly 
inquired,  what  was  the  reason  for  such  a  wholesale 
tardiness  ?     The  spokesman  of  the  party,  being  driven 


101 


to  invent  some  reason,  as  best  he  could,  insinuatingly 
gave  the  master  to  understand,  "that  the  wind  had 
unexpected!}^  died  away  on  the  passage  to  the  wharf, 
leaving  them  becalmed,  unable  to  get  into  port 
sooner. ' '  The  master  took  in  the  drift  of  the  rather 
thinly  veiled  excuse  at  once,  but  as  the  party  con- 
sisted of  the  largest  and  best  of  his  scholars,  usually 
prompt,  he  replied,  while  a  twinkle  in  his  eye  could 
be  seen,  "  I  shall  excuse  you  for  this  time,  but  mind 
and  don't  let  the  wind  die  away  next  time,  or  you  may 
find  it  here  in  the  shape  of  a  storm." 

The  following  lines,  written  at  the  time  by  one  of 
the  boys  of  poetical  tendencies,  will  explain  why  the 
wind  died  away  on  that  particular  day  and  time. 

BOYS. 

Wilt  take  a  run  this  sultry  noon, 

To  cool  your  fevered  blood  ? 

GIRLS. 

No,  run  we  won't,  w^e  should  all  melt, 
We  couldn't  if  we  would. 

BOYS. 

Pshaw  now !  you  do  not  understand, 

Close  hauled,  we'll  scud  along, 

GIRI,S. 

We  won't  be  hauled,  nor  scud  along. 

Such  conduct  is  all  wrong. 


102 

BOYS. 

Pooh  !  pooh  !  your  foolish,  we'll  talk  plain. 
We  mean  a  sail  to  take. 

GIRLS. 

Oh  yes,  we  all  will  go  with  you 

To  sail  upon  the  lake. 

BOYS. 
Embark  !  go  aft !    don't  hit  the  boom, 

Nor  tread  upon  the  painter, 

GIRLS. 

We  won't  be  fooled,  no  painter's  here, 

We'll  leave  j^ou  now  instanter. 

BOYS. 

Oh  nonsense,  girls  !  we  meant  the  rope, 
With  which  the  boat  is  tied. 

GIRLS. 
If  you  had  talked  as  plain  before, 

We'd  stepped  the  other  side. 

BOYS. 

Girls,  dress  the  boat,  she  starboard  heels, 
The  needle  is  due  north. 

GIRLS. 
The  boat's  no  heels,  she  needs  no  dress, 

We've  needle  none,  nor  cloth. 


103 

BOYS. 

We  mean,  let  part  go  on  each  side, 
To  make  it  level  well. 

GIRI.S. 
We're  tired  of  this,  in  English  speak 

When  you  have  aught  to  tell. 

BOYS. 

Watch  sharp  the  boom,  look  out,  we'll  luff, 
She  shivers,  tack  to  port. 

GIRI.S. 
What  is  the  boom  ?   luff,  luff,  what's  that  ? 
She  shivers  not,  she's  hot. 

BOYS. 

There  girls,  see  now,  we've  come  about, 
To  hug  the  western  shore. 

GIRI.S. 

You  needn't  "come  about  "  us  here, 
For  hugging  is  no  more. 

BOYS. 

No  girls,  we  only  meant  to  say. 

That  we  will  sail  close  in. 

GIRLS. 

If  you  mean  so,  'twill  please  us  best 
The  sooner  you  begin. 


104 

BOYS. 

We  have  on  board,  a  scuttled  butt, 

Perhaps  a  pull  you'll  take. 

GIRLS. 

We'll  pull  no  butt,  but  we  would  like 

Some  drink  our  thirst  to  slake. 

BOYS. 

Hark  girls,  d'you  hear,  the  bell  for  school, 
Crowd  sail  to  make  the  wharf. 

GIRLS. 

To  crowd  a  sail,  to  make  a  wharf. 

Is  just  what  makes  us  laugh. 

BOYS,  sotto  voce. 
Well,  hurry  up,  before  we  go 

To  sail  with  you  again, 
We'll  lessons  give  you  in  sea  talk. 

And  make  these  terms  all  plain. 

GIRLS,  tutti,  fortissimo. 
But  we  all  say,  "  on  shore  we'll  stay, 

We're  not  to  be  abused. 
Till  you  have  learned  the  English  for 

The  jabber  you  have  used." 

Exit,  allegro  accelerando.     Result  as  above. 

While   Mr.   Holmes  was  principal,   before   Mr. 
Hathaway,    the  teacher's  desk   was   a  large,  round 


106 


aflfair,  having  a  dark  cavernous  hole  beneath,  into 
which  the  preceptor  not  only  extended  his  pedal  ex- 
tremities, but  occasionally  threw  in  an  "'old  soger''  or 
quid  of  exhausted  tobacco. 

These  quids  were  of  enormous  size,  he  being  a 
great  chewist  when  things  went  wrong.  This  cavern 
he  often  used  as  a  place  of  purgatory  or  ' '  bri^ ' '  as 
sailors  would  call  it,  for  rebellious  pupils,  occasionally 
punching  them  with  his  foot  to  remind  them  of  their 
enormities,  till  from  its  blackness,  closeness  and  smell 
of  the  weed,  the  boys  christened  it  "  the  Black  Hole." 
One  day,  after  two  of  the  scholars  had  experienced 
the  pains  of  purgatory,  while  the  master  was  unusually 
peppery,  the  boys,  at  noon,  while  rummaging  round 
the  pond,  caught  a  monster  turtle  weighing  about  50 
pounds.  Suddenly  one  of  the  rogues  of  the  school 
had  a  bright  idea,  a  consultation  ensued,  after  which 
screams  of  laughter  rent  the  air.  A  wheelbarrow  was 
at  once  procured,  the  turtle  was  put  into  it,  confined 
with  a  rope  and  transported  to  the  Academy  ;  while 
just  before  Mr.  Holmes  came  in,  this  ferocious  member 
of  the  chelonia  family,  who  by  that  time  had  been 
punched  up  to  the  greatest  rage,  was  placed  in  the 
Black  Hole,  while  the  school  was  as  still  as  death, 
awaiting  results. 

When  the  master  attempted  to  take  possession  of 
his  throne  he  was  met  by  a  far  different  customer  than 
one  of  those  who  usually  occupied  the  cavern,  for  he 
saw  issuing  from  it  a  huge  warrior,  clothed  in  mail, 
with   glaring   eyes,    extended   claws,  and  monstrous 


106 


wide  open  mouth,  hissing  with  rage,  like  a  demon 
from  the  infernal  regions,  who  drove  the  astonished 
man  back,  while  the  whole  school  was  in  the  wildest 
uproar.  Assistance  being  procured,  the  late  occupant 
of  the  Black  Hole  was  ejected,  snapping  and  strug- 
gling from  the  schoolroom. 

There  was  a  tradition  current  here  years  ago, 
that  an  Indian  once  killed  his  squaw  near  the  pond' 
carried  her  body  out  in  a  canoe  and  sank  it  a  little 
distance  off  the  mouth  of  the  brook  at  the  north  end, 
and  that  ever  since  then,  she  occasionally  sticks  her 
head  out  of  the  water  groaning  and  screaming  just  as 
she  did  at  the  time  he  killed  her. 

It  is  also  said,  that  although  several  are  credited 
with  having  occasionally  heard  her  cries,  especially  at 
night,  but  one  person  has  actually  seen  her,  that  per- 
son being  Uncle  lyOt  Eaton,  a  noted  gunner,  who, 
while  in  the  bushes  watching  a  loon  near  the  the  spot, 
just  as  he  was  about  to  fire,  suddenly  saw  head 
and  shoulders  of  the  old  squaw  appear  above  the 
water  between  him  and  the  loon,  uttering  a  peculiar 
cry  or  scream,  on  which  the  loon  screamed  also,  then 
both  disappeared  together,  while  Uncle  I^ot  declared 
that  the  two  screams  sounded  to  him  just  alike.  The 
next  day  he  went  down  there  again,  shot  the  loon  and 
found  an  old  deerskin  moccasin  with  blood  stains 
on  it,  at  the  shore  near  the  spot,  which  he  kept  for 
many  years  to  prove  the  truth  of  the  old  legend. 

The  Old  Town  or  Penobscot  Indians  were  quite 
an  attraction  at  "  The  Locks"  every  summer.     They 


107 


encamped  on  the  flat  just  south  of  the  hotel,  forming 
quite  a  village  with  their  picturesque  tepees.  These 
redmen,  or  that  part  of  them  which  was  pure  breed, 
were  of  the  Abnaki  branch  of  the  great  Algonkin  Na- 
tion and  spoke  that  language.  As  they  brought  their 
bark  canoes  with  them  and  were  constantlj^  on  the 
lake,  one  might  well  imagine  an  old-time  scene  before 
the  white  man  came  here. 

It  was  quite  an  experience  to  get  into  one  of  these 
' '  tippers  ' '  with  an  Indian  and  take  a  lesson  in  canoe- 
ing. As  the  paddlejis  used  only  on  the  side,  it  required 
much  practise,  for  the  stroke  is  compound,  the  first 
being  for  propulsion,  the  last  for  steering,  so  the  exact 
curve  of  the  paddle  with  the  amount  of  force  necessary 
at  the  end,  are  matters  to  be  acquired  by  practise,  and 
that  too,  is  to  be  done  in  a  shell  of  birch  bark,  where 
the  first  lesson  is  to  keep  it  from  tipping  over.  Many's 
the  time,  when  the  spectators  on  shore  have  seen  a 
canoe  suddenly  turn  bottom  upwards  with  Indian 
and  pupil,  or  perhaps  a  learner  alone,  popping  up  their 
heads,  blowing  like  porpoises  to  right  the  craft. 

One  day  a  squaw  had  a  bite  by  a  large  fish  when 
off  her  guard,  so  overboard  she  went,  but  still  she 
hung  on  to  the  line,  got  into  her  canoe  again,  pulled 
in  the  fish  and  paddled  off  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

Indians  soon  learn  white  man's  ways.  I^ooking 
into  their  tepees,  one  could  see  these  falsely  called 
"Stoics"  playing  high-low-jack-and-the-game,  with 
a  pack  of  greasy  cards,  screeching  and  laughing  like 
children,  while  some  others,  with  that  peculiar  sober 


108 


cast  of  face  which  is  characteristic  of  the  race,  when 
in  a  state  of  repose,  were  making  baskets,  little  canoes, 
etc.,  beside  them,  sober  as  owls  in  daylight.  More 
than  half  these  Indians  wore  moccasins  and  blankets, 
with  rings  of  good  size  in  their  ears. 

The  first  ice  cut  on  the  pond  was  by  Mr.  Gillis, 
who  for  a  time  kept  the  second  house  at  the  centre 
lock.  He  had  a  small  ice  house,  partly  under  ground 
near  the  wharf.  The  next  cutting  was  about  the  year 
1843,  for  the  Horn  Pond  House.  This  was  cut  with 
hand  saws,  stacked  up  on  the  west  side  at  the  little  cove 
under  the  hemlocks,  with  straw  and  boards  over  it. 

Not  one-half  of  it  was  ever  used,  picnic  parties 
went  over  there  and  cooled  their  lemonade  with  it, 
loafers  stuck  their  bottles  into  it,  boys  stole  it,  every- 
body made  it  common  property,  but  still  there  was 
some  left  to  be  covered  by  the  autumn  leaves. 

As  time  progressed,  the  hotel,  like  many  others, 
degenerated  into  a  place  of  low  resort.  The  raids  on 
the  place,  the  celebrated  seizure  of  game  cocks, 
February  5,  1843,  and  the  trial,  wherein  some  of  our 
best  citizens  were  actors,  are  events  well  remembered, 
till  finally  the  place  passed  into  the  hands  of  K.  W. 
Hudson,   Esq.,  and  became  his  private  residence. 

In  1835  the  Boston  &  Lowell  railroad  went  into 
operation.  The  canal  felt  the  superior  power  of  steam 
and  rapid  transit,  for  its  custom  quickly  dwindled, 
while  in  a  few  years  the  once  famous  route  was  no 
more ;  the  locks  are  gone,  and  houses  in  numerous 
places,  stand  on  the  very  spots  over  which  once  passed 


109 


the  boats  of  a  great  corporation,  while  the  few  vesti- 
ges left  are  rapidly  disappearing.  The  last  boat,  ran 
by  Joel  Dix  of  Billerica,  passed  along  the  canal  April 
14,  1852.  Mr.  Marshall  M.  Tidd,  our  noted  civil  en- 
gineer, late  deceased,  tended  the  upper  lock  for  Mr. 
Stoddard  when  absent  and  later  succeeded  him  there. 
He  boarded  with  Stoddard  at  the  third  inn.  Even  at 
that  time  his  love  for  sketching  prompted  him  to  take 
views,  among  which  on  Nov.  26,  1849,  he  took  a  pen- 
cil sketch  of  Corporal  Wright's  Bridge,  and  later  of 
the  lock  he  tended.  Sometime  before  his  death,  he 
promised  the  author  that  he  would  complete  the  first, 
and  redraw  the  second,  adding  thereto  the  "  First  Inn 
at  Horn  Pond,"  from  which  to  make  plates  for  the 
present  work.  This  was  necessarily  delayed,  and  so 
far  as  the  author  knew,  was  left  undone  at  his  decease. 
But  on  search,  it  was  found  he  had  completed  the  first, 
and  within  a  week  of  his  decease,  conquering  by  his 
will,  approaching  death,  he  had  made  the  second, 
leaving  only  the  finishing  up  undone,  this  being  his 
last  work  on  earth.  The  final  touches  have  since  been 
done  by  Albert  Thompson,  our  noted  artist.  The 
accompanying  plates  made  from  these  drawings  the 
public  will  appreciate,  not  only  as  rare  views,  other- 
wise unobtainable,  but  as  the  work  of  our  distinguished 
fellow-citizen  now  gone,  to  whom  they  are  indebted 
for  their  preservation.  By  the  kindness  of  his  daughter, 
Miss  Alice  S.  Tidd,  to  whom  the  public  are  also  in 
debt,  the  author  has  been  presented  with  these  two 
drawings,  from  which  the  plates  were  made. 


no 


John    Flagg  and  the  Imps. 
a  tale  of  the  black  house,  woburn. 

Kings  may  be  blest,  but  Tarn  was  glorious, 
O'er  a'  the  'ills  o'  life  victorious. 

Burns. 


^IFTY  odd  years  ago,  there  was  in  Woburn 
^centre,  a  little  cottage,  familiarly  known  as  "Si 
Fowle's  Den,"  at  the  corner  of  Main  street,  and 
a  little  lane,  now  called  Walnut  street,  then 
leading  up  only  to  an  old  barn  belonging  to  the 
Fowle  Tavern  estate  on  the  hill,  to  the  left,  and  to  the 
top  of  Meeting  House  Hill  on  the  right. 

This  cottage  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Josiah  Fowle  as 
a  residence,  and  as  a  small  shop  for  the  sale  of  oysters 
and  other  refreshments,  with  candy  and  bon-bons  for 
the  children,  while  it  was  hinted  that  "  St,"  who  was 
a  clever  soul,  always  rubbing  his  pate,  and  wanking 
in  a  peculiar  manner,  kept  refreshments  of  quite  a 
different  sort,  for  the  noctural  customers,  who,  on  the 
sly,  frequented  the  place. 

The  plate  exhibiting  the  easterly  side  of  Main 
street,  opposite  the  Fowle  Tavern,  gives  a  good  view 
of  this  queer  resort  of  former  days,  the  scene  of  the 
first  part  of  the  story  told  in  the  following  poem;  while 


Ill 


the  plate  of  the  ' '  Black  House, ' '  with  the  well  curb  and 
sweep  in  its  rear,  shows  the  locus  of  the  termination 
of  the  old  tale. 


The  low  summer  moon 

Of  a  night  in  June, 

As  in  slumber  all  good  people  lay, 

Cast  her  radiant  sheen, 

O'er  the  little  town  green. 

And  only  one  man  could  be  heard  or  seen; 

While  the  Baptist  Church  Spire 

In  its  moonlight  attire, 

Like  a  monolith  shone  o'er  the  way. 

Hark!  hark!  a  rap, 
Tap-tap,  tap-tap; 
Who  is  the  man. 
And  what  does  he  want  ? 
John  Flagg,  'tis  he, 
The  tall,  the  gaunt; 


112 


Where  is  he  knocking  ? 
At  Si  Fowle's  door, 
For  his  throat  is  dry, 
And  he  longs  for  more. 

Now  I  must,  (so  you'll  know,)  right  here  digress 

To  say,  this  was  long,  long  ago,  more  or  less 

At  least  fifty  j^ears,  and  probably  more. 

When  the  aforesaid  Flagg,  knocked  at  Si  Fowle's  door. 

Si,  kept  a  den,  at  the  end  of  a  lane, 

Now  grown  straight  and  broad  with  the  dignified  name 

Of  Walnut  street  inscribed  on  a  sign,  at  the  spot 

Where  Si  once  kept  03'sters  and  "  Sutlmi  hot.'' 

For  all  those  who  by  hook  or  by  crook  had  in  store, 

The  word  which  would  open  the  tight  bolted  door. 

"  Who's  there,  give  the  word?" 

Says  Si,  within, 

"  A  friend,"  says  John, 

"All  right,  let  me  in," 

The  bolt  was  drawn,  while  soon  with  the  rest, 

John  was  soaking  his  clay  with  ' '  Josiah  Fowle's  best. ' ' 

Si's  cottage  was  small,  but  the  room  was  snug 

As  the  curtains  were  down,  so  like  bugs  in  a  rug, 

These  topers  w^ere  having  a  joll}^  old  time, 

In  that  quaint  little  shop  without  any  sign. 

Where  children  by  day  bought  their  candy  and  dates, 

And  bummers  at  night,  with  congenial  mates. 

Took  their  oysters  in  peace,  and  their  Medford  rum, 

Without  any  fear  of  the  "  Cops"  of  the  town. 

For  the  windows  were  locked,  not  a  soul  of  the  crew, 

Would  tell  for  his  life,  the  least  bit  that  he  knew. 

'Twas  just  at  the  moment  when  Si's  little  clock, 
Was  striking  the  hour  of  twelve,  when  a  knock 


113 


At  the  door,  caused  the  hot  "  torn  and  jerry," 

That  was  raised  for  the  last  drink,  to  be  drank  in  a 

hurry, 
While  John,  who  by  that  time,  was  well  filled  with  rum, 
Said  "  here  goes,"  and  suiting  the  words  with  a  run, 
Jtimped  straight  through  a  window,  while  alloftherest, 
lyike  a  flock  of  sheep  followed  him,  leaving  no  guest. 
So  Si  who  stood  trembling,  and  winking  his  eyes, 
And  rubbing  his  pate,  as  if  brushing  off  flies. 
Was  knocked  of  a  sudden,  stark  flat  on  the  floor. 
When  the  "  Cops"  with  a  vengeance,  burst  open  the 

door. 
But  found  that  the  todd)^  and  topers  were  gone, 
So  nothing  was  left  them  to  hang  a  case  on. 

Oh  when  the  full  orbed  Queen  of  night. 

In  summer  pours  her  silver  light. 

O'er  all  the  sleeping  beauty  green, 

In  tinted  waves  of  color  seen. 

Floating  in  countless  shades  which  grace 

The  flowers  that  deck  the  landscape's  face; — 

We  scent  the  perfume  in  the  air. 

The  breath  of  nature's  poets  fair, 

And  catch,  brought  faintly  on  the  breeze. 

The  cooing  whispers  lovers  please 

To  breathe  to  each  in  accents  sweet. 

As  they  go  loit'ring  on  the  street; — 

Then  night  is  lovely,  ev'ry  sense 

Is  pitched  to  highest  excellence; — 

But  when,  in  latest  autumn  time, 
The  ringed  moon  vainly  tries  to  shine, 
And  night  lets  down  a  sable  shroud. 
While  boist'rous  winds  howl  hoarsely  loud, 
And  ed'yiiig  gusts  with  snow  or  rain, 


114 


Cause  each  belated  one  again 
To  hug  around  his  shiv'ring  form, 
The  warm  protection  from  the  storm;  — 
And  see  deserted  streets  that  lie, 
Piled  with  the  downpour  of  the  sky; — 
Then  night  is  dismal,  trav'lers  pale, 
With  rueful  faces  breast  the  gale. 
And  seek  with  quickened  steps  the  door, 
That  shuts  out  nature's  wintry  roar. 

So  with  the  weather, 

So  with  John, 

When  on  a  bum. 

And  full  of  rum; 

He  for  the  moment  revelled  in 

Delicious  visions  passing  o'er 

His  clouded  brain,  hilarious  more 

Than  mortal  could  unhurt  sustain, 

Who  borrows  fun,  and  paj^s  with  pain. 

He  reeled  up  Main  street  all  alone, 

No  King  on  earth  upon  his  throne, 

Felt  greater  happiness  or  power 

Than  John,  a  monarch  for  the  hour. 

With  rum  for  fiddler,  he  did  sing. 

And  made  the  midnight  welkin  ring 

With  ribald  jokes,  and  songs  and  cries. 

Till  sleepers  wakened,  rubbed  their  eyes, 

And  cursed  the  man,  w^hose  drunken  screams, 

Had  chased  away  their  pleasant  dreams. 

And  heard  from  out  John's  ample  throat, 

Stentorian  howls,  still  louder  yet, 

Till  he  informed  them  in  a  song, 

Which  was  not  very  sw^eet,  but  strong; — 

"  That  Old  King  Cole  was  a  jolly  old  soul, 


115 


And  a  jolly  old  soul  was  he; 

That  he  called  for  his  pipe,  and  he  called  for  his  bowl^ 

And  for  his  j5ddlers  three; 

The  fiddlers  drank  his  pipe  and  bowl, 

And  Cole  his  fiddlers  swallowed  whole. 

For  he  was  thirsty  as  could  be." 

And  then  he  mixed  up  dog  and  bee, 
With  one  line  dog,  while  bee  had  three. 

' '  How  doth  the  little  busy  bee 
Delight  to  bark  and  bite, 
She  gathers  honey  all  the  day. 
And  eats  it  up  at  night." 


All  of  a  sudden,  the  night  w^as  still, 

For  John  had  fallen  'neath  a  hill. 

Near  Central,  then  called  "  Hawker's  Square,' 

Under  the  wall,  and  was  snoring  where 

The  School  House  stands,  his  fun  had  gone, 

And  delirium  tremens  was  coming  on. 


The  Cock  had  crowed,  for  morn  was  nigh, 
The  moon  was  in  the  w^estern  sky, 
And  Harris,  (William  B.)  then  known 
As  living  on  the  "  Black  House"  Farm, 
A  noted  place,  in  slumber  lay, 
lyuUed  by  the  scent  of  new  mown  hay, 
Which  through  the  open  window,  strong, 
Caused  Harris  to  his  nap  prolong; 
When  something  in  the  backyard  creaking, 


116 


And  washing,  swashing,  fast  increasing, 

Roused  Harris  from  his  slumber  deep 

To  know,  that  furious  his  well  sweep, 

Was  swung  by  such  a  powerful  arm 

As  no  one  had  upon  the  farm; 

He  listened,  rose,  and  looked  to  see. 

Who  the  intruder  mad  might  be, 

That  seemingl}^  was  bent  to  try 

If  he  could  drain  that  deep  well  dry, 

And  there  stood  John,  all  in  a  sweat, 

With  hat  off,  perspiration  wet 

Running  in  streams  from  ev'ry  pore. 

While  he  was  trying  to  do  more. 

To  turn  the  water  on  the  ground, 

Which  then  was  soaked  for  rods  around. 

Says  Harris,  "what's  the  matter  John?" 

Says  John  "why  see  them,  how  they  run 

"To  drink  the  water  that  I  pour, 

"They  take  it  all,  and  shriek  for  more; 

"Oh  Harris,  save  me  from  their  power. 

"I've  water  drawn  for  more'n  an  hour, 

"To  satisfy  their  hell-born  thirst, 

"Which  is  as  raging  as  at  first. 

"lyook!  look!  they're  grinning,  see  them  leap, 

"There's  fifty  roosting  on  the  sweep, 

"Beneath  their  weight,  the  long  pole  shakes, 

"Their  tails  they're  turning  into  snakes, 

"They  even  on  the  bucket  sit 

"As  up  and  down  it  goes  to  dip, 

"They're  coming  now,  in  flying  showers, 

"The  devil  tall  above  them  towers, 

"Ah,  even  now,  they're  seizing  me, 

"I  cannot  stop,  I  cannot  flee, 

"I'm  choking"; — Harris  came  and  found, 

John  stretched  in  tremors  on  the  ground. 


117 

For  weeks  John  hovered  near  the  grave, 
For  weeks  his  life  they  tried  to  save, 
Skill  conquered,  but  he  ne'er  forgot 
Those  jumping  imps,  with  thirst  so  hot, 
For  whom,  in  mad  delirium  fell, 
He  swung  the  bucket  at  the  well. 


118 


The   Fowle  Tavern,  Central 
House  and  Wood's  Tavern. 


HE  Marshall  Fowle  Tavern,  once  standing 
where  the  Central  House  now  stands,  ranked 
as  one  of  the  oldest  in  town.  The  Ark  ante- 
dates it  a  few  3^ears,  for  that  was  built  in  1674, 
while  the  Fowle  Tavern  was  erected  in  1691, 
and  taken  down  in  1 840-1,  to  give  place  to  the  Central 
House.     The  population  then  was  550 

This  ancient  structure  of  which  the  plate  gives  a 
correct  view,  was  a  fair  representative  of  its  kind  at 
the  time.  Its  quaint  hip  roof,  its  small  windows,  its 
easy  inviting  appearance,  like  some  of  the  English 
Country  inns  of  toda}^;  the  want  of  st34e,  yet  having 
a  cosy  stylish  way  of  its  own,  gave  travelers  of  the 
time,  a  favorable  impression  as  the)'  approached  it, 
while  the  hospitable  look  and  treatment  inside  con- 
firmed their  impressions. 

The  rooms  were  lo\t,  but  characteristic  of  the  day. 
The  bar-room  and  furniture  were  of  the  Canonical 
kind.  In  this  tavern,  the  northerly  front  room  was  the 
bar-room,  then  the  common  sitting  and  lounging  place 
of  the  period,  where  the  men  met  evenings  to  talk 
farming,  politics,  and  hear  the  news. 


rr"\    S 


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119 


The  bar  was  semi-circular,  placed  at  the  back 
right  hand  corner,  with  the  customary  railing  around 
the  top.  All  the  taverns  about  here  had  a  similar  one, 
in  fact,  it  was  the  most  important  feature  of  a  tavern 
at  that  time,  for  toddy  was  then  used  by  all;  and  it  is 
safe  to  say,  that  not  one  drop  of  impure  or  doctored 
liquor  was  sold  from  the  bar  unless  a  little  pure  water 
was  added.  It  was  a  higher  civilization  that  intro- 
duced the  horrible  drug  compounded  fire-waters  of  to- 
day, for  the  sake  of  gain,  and  to  give  the  ''Cuf  to 
them,  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  the  depraved  tastes 
of  those  who  now  frequent  the  liquor  saloons. 

Pewter  tankards,  sugar  bowls,  toddy  sticks,  and 
plain  thick  glass  tumblers  in  later  years,  occupied  the 
bar  itself;  while  on  the  shelves  behind,  were  ranged 
numerous  decanters,  with  but  few  bottles,  having  in 
them  New  England  rum.  West  India  rum,  gin,  brandy, 
Maderia  wine  and  port,  but  no  whiskey,  for  that  had 
not  then  been  manufactured,  while  on  the  floor,  stood 
a  jug  of  molasses,  wherewith  to  make  black-strap  (a 
corruption  of  the  old  English  word  blackstripe,)  and 
a  barrel  of  beer  to  make  flip,  while  the  loggerhead 
which  put  the  finishing  touch  on  the  flip,  was  resting 
against  the  andiron,  with  its  larger  end  in  the  embers- 
Crackers,  cheese,  saltfish  stripped  up,  and  ginger- 
bread for  refreshments,  occupied  a  prominent  place, 
while  lo7ig  nines  and  short  sixes  stood  in  tumblers,  for 
a  smoke,  as  the  customers  went  out,  or  lounged  about. 
It  was  seldom  that  anyone  was  seen  really  drunk, 
the  few  topers  only  getting  silly  and  sleepy,  when  they 


120 


were  '  'over  the  bay' ' ,  as  the  liquors  were  perfectly  pure; 
but  now-a-days  the  drugged  compounds  drank  create 
a  raging,  tormenting  thirst  constantly  demanding 
more!  more!  but  never  satisfied,  till  they  are  drunk 
"clean  through^''  "fighting  drunk'''  being  a  common 
expression  for  these  as  they  parade  the  streets,  ready 
to  pitch  upon  anybody  on  the  slightest  provocation  or 
no  provocation  at  all. 

At  the  west  end  of  the  house,  was  a  long  un- 
finished two  story  wing,  nearer  the  street  than  the 
present  stable,  left  open  below,  and  with  horse  troughs 
all  along  the  back  side  for  country  teams,  while  the 
unfinished  loft  above,  with  its  loosely  boarded  up  places 
left  for  windows,  served  as  a  home  for  myriads  of  doves. 
At  the  north  of  the  house  was  a  log  pump,  with  a  large 
plank  trough,  close  to  the  road. 

Right  in  front,  near  the  centre  of  the  street,  as 
shown  by  the  plate  and  also  in  plate  of  the  Central 
House  made  from  a  view  taken  in  1855,  were  two  giant 
trees,  an  elm  and  a  willow,  although  some  say,  that 
earlier  there  were  three.  Between  these  trees  were 
horse  troughs,  where  travelers  fed  their  horses,  while 
they  themselves  were  having  a  three  cent  drink  in  the 
Tavern.  These  trees  were  standing  in  1858,  but  were 
cut  down  soon  after. 

Rev.  Jacob  Coggin  who  at  one  time  kept  the  hotel, 
occasionally  preached,  so  just  before  the  close,  he  used 
to  announce,  "that  after  service,  refreshments  would 
be  furnished  at  his  tavern  to  all  who  wished,"  then  he 
pronounced  the  benediction,  and  hurried  home  to  deal 


121 


out  bodily  comforts  to  those  who  had  just  partaken  of 
his  spiritual  food,  performing  both  functions  himself 
for  the  good  of  the  people,  and  his  own  personal  gain. 

This  Ancient  Inn  was  the  scene  of  stirring  events. 
It  was  not  only  a  tavern,  but  a  place  for  holding  meet- 
ings, and  people  assembled  here  in  times  of  excitement 
to  hear  the  news,  and  to  determine  a  line  of  action.  It 
was  here  that  the  minute  men  met  on  January  4,  1775, 
to  organize  and  discuss  events.  At  this  time  the  popu- 
lation of  the  town  was  1600  souls,  while  the  taxpayers 
numbered  311. 

According  to  Mr.  Dwight  F.  Eager,  a  master 
carpenter,  he  was  at  work  on  the  present  Central 
House  in  the  fall  of  1840,  when  the  great  Harrison 
political  rally  passed  by,  and  finished  it  in  1841.  The 
population  of  the  town  at  that  time  was  3000.  It 
was  built  by  Mr.  Joseph  Rollins,  formerly  ostler  at  the 
Fowle  Tavern,  who  had  bought  the  estate;  but  unfortu- 
nately for  him,  in  building,  he  trespassed  on  the  town's 
land  to  the  north,  so  in  digging  away  the  ledge  to 
furnish  a  sufficient  way  for  the  town  to  the  old  Burial 
Ground,  he  expended  so  much  that  he  was  compelled 
to  sell  it,  and  became  ostler  there,  when  he  exempli- 
fied the  changes  of  fortune  by  saying  that  when  he 
was  ostler,  people  used  to  sing  out,  "  where 's  Jo, 
where's  Jo;"  when  he  became  landlord,  the  cry  was, 
"where  is  Mr.  Rollins,"  but  when  he  went  back  to  his 
old  place,  he  again  heard  that  old  cry  "where's  Jo, 
where's  Jo."  Just  north  of  the  hotel  will  be  seen  on 
reference  to  the  plate  of  the  Central  House,  the  build- 


122 


ing  now  standing,  where  several  of  our  citizens  now^ 
gone,  kept  a  store,  viz; — Thomas  Hovey,  Jr.,  P.  S. 
Barnard,  Amos  Bugbee,  Noah  B.  Eastman,  James  S. 
Ellis  and  Rufus  Smith,  be3^ond  which,  under  the  ledge, 
is  shown  the  old  Town  Cattle  Pound  in  plate  of  the 
Fowle  Tavern;  usually  in  those  times  kept  well  tenanted 
with  stray  cattle.  Still  further  north,  in  the  plate  of 
the  Central  House,  is  seen  the  building,  now  gone, 
where  Dr.  Joel  F.  Tha5^er  once  had  an  apothecary's 
store  and  tin  shop;  and  where  Dr.  Elbridge  Trull 
afterwards  carried  on  the  same  business,  with  a  tin 
shop  in  the  north  end,  before  he  built  at  the  corner  of 
Main  and  Union  streets  opposite,  and  removed  his 
business  there. 

The  plate  also  .shows,  that  at  that  time,  the  Journal 
building  had  not  been  erected,  as  the  original  stone- 
wall is  seen.  The  gentleman  standing  at  the  door 
under  the  piazza  is  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Parker,  then  owner 
of  the  estate. 

For  mau}^  years  this  was  "  The  Place,"  in  Wo- 
burn,  for  dancing  and  sleigh  ride  parties.  The  hall 
was  a  large  one,  accommodating  50  or  more  couples. 
Here  Ned  Kendall,  the  prince  of  bugle  players  with 
his  silver,  and  afterwards  with  his  gold  bugle,  which 
always  electrified  the  dancers,  was  often  seen;  but  it 
was  only  by  its  magic  tones  that  he  took  all  by  storm, 
for  as  a  cornet  player  he  was  only  fairly  good,  many 
players  of  the  time  surpassing  him  on  that  instrument. 
Jim  Kendall,  his  brother,  was  side  by  side  with  him 
in  popularity.     His  Eb  ophicliede  playing  in  the  street 


123 


rated  up  to  that  of  his  brother  on  the  Eb  bugle,  while 
his  clarinet  playing  was  superb. 

Here  also  was  heard  John  Bartlett  with  his  ' '  Cock 
Trumpet."  a  valve  instrument  made  especially  for 
him.  He  was  simply  splendid  in  an  orchestra  for 
dancing,  as  his  short,  decisive,  j-et  smooth  staccatos, 
with  easy  flowing,  almost  gliding  fine  toned  passages, 
and  wonderful  tonguing,  not  too  prominent,  took  the 
dancers  off  their  feet,  as  in  their  keen  appreciation, 
they  cut  ''pigeon  win^s,''  or  marched  with  martial 
tread  to  the  fine  music  of  the  orchestra  of  the  Boston 
Brigade  Band. 

The  author  may  perhaps  be  pardoned  for  stating, 
that  on  several  occasions  he  played  as  prompter  with 
the  Kendall  brothers,  in  their  fine  quadrille  band,  with 
Weinz  first  violin  and  Sam  Ames  as  bass.  So  he  can 
testify  to  the  furore  these  celebrated  performers  created 
here  at  such  times.  The  orchestra  of  the  Woburn 
Marion  Band,  with  the  noted  Adam  Kurek  first  violin, 
was  almost  constantly  emplo5^ed,  with  others  of  the 
day.  Here  marched  and  danced  many  of  Woburn's 
best  citizens  and  ladies  now  passed  away. 

But  ever}-  hall  has  its  day,  and  the  Central  House 
hall  has  long  ceased  to  echo  to  terpsichorean  strains, 
or  the  merry  feet  of  the  dancers.  The  important  view . 
shown  by  the  plate,  otherwise  forever  lost  to  the  citizens 
of  Woburn,  gives  an  accurate  representation  of  that 
part  of  the  Marshall  Fowle  Tavern  estate,  which  was 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Main  street,  as  it  appeared 
sixty  years  ago,  and  later,  together  with  the  entire 


124 


distance  from  present  Union  street,  to  where  the  First 
National  Bank  Building  now  stands. 

At  the  corner  of  Main  and  Union  streets  is  seen 
the  old  Deacon  Fowle  House,  (now  moved  back  end- 
ing on  Union  street,)  with  its  picket  fence  and  two 
cherry  trees  in  front;  next  beyond,  is  the  field  where 
horses  were  turned  out  for  pasturage  and  exercise; 
then  comes  the  long  barn,  where  myriads  of  swallows 
nested,  broadside  to  the  street,  and  close  to  the  side- 
walk, with  large  double  doors  at  each  end,  into  which 
the  country  baggage  wagons  were  driven  for  the  night, 
and  where  horses  were  kept;  this  barn  stood  where  the 
stores  of  L,.  W.  Thompson,  Richardson  Bros,  and 
Munroe  now  are;  nearly  back  of  this  barn  was  another, 
on  the  hill;  the  top  of  which  can  be  seen,  about  where 
the  house  formerly  the  Methodist  parsonage  now 
stands  ;  this,  in  its  last  days,  having  become  much 
decayed,  was  torn  down  by  the  boys,  who  took  the 
matter  into  their  own  hands.  Just  front  of  this  second 
barn,  at  the  north  corner  of  present  Walnut  street, 
then  a  mere  lane,  used  for  a  passage  way  up  Meeting 
House  Hill,  and  to  the  barn,  was  a  small  walled 
orchard,  containing  four  apple  trees;  then  came  said 
lane,  on  the  southerly  side  of  which  is  to  be  seen  the 
little  cottage,  then  owned  by  Baldwin,  with  a  picket 
fence,  and  two  apple  trees  in  front,  in  which  Mr.  Josiah 
Fowle  for  a  long  time  kept  an  oyster,  candy  and 
refreshment  saloon,  where  children  daily  bought  du/ces , 
and  in  which  at  night,  liquors  were  sold,  on  the  sly,  to 
the  bummers.     This  last  building  is  the  place  referred 


125 


to  in  the  poem  of  "John  Flagg  and  the  Imps"  in  this 
volume,  the  north  front  room  being  the  one  where  the 
"  Den^'  was  kept.  Next  beyond  this,  is  seen  the  top 
of  an  old  barn,  then  standing  there,  while  Mr.  Benjamin 
Wood  had  a  shoe  shop  close  to,  not  shown  in  the  plate. 
Mr.  John  C.  Brackett  once  had  a  public  stable  between 
the  cottage  and  the  horse  shed,  from  which  he  ran  a 
daily  four-horse  stage  to  Boston,  price  of  passage,  fifty 
cents  each  way,  time  2  to  2  1-2  hours,  but  as  it  would 
be  almost  indistinguishable  if  drawn  in,  and  as  the 
plate  is  intended  to  represent  an  earlier  period,  it  is 
omitted. 

Then  comes  in  the  distance,  finishing  the  view, 
the  once  noted  hostelry,  "Wood's  Tavern,"  kept  by 
Mr.  Benjamin  Wood,  2d,  with  its  horse  shed  on  the 
north  side,  in  which  was  exhibited  in  18 17,  the  first 
elephant  ever  seen  in  Woburn,  admission  ninepence. 

The  Post  office,  for  a  time,  was  in  the  north  end, 
the  sign  ' '  Post  office  ' '  being  over  the  door,  as  shown 
in  the  plate;  while  at  the  south-west  corner,  at  the 
street,  stood  a  tall  sign  post,  with  a  swinging  sign 
lettered  "  B.  Wood,"  having  a  gold  ball  depending 
by  an  iron  rod  therefrom. 

Mr.  Wood  was  the  third  postmaster  of  Woburn, 
but  Mrs.  Wood  usually  transacted  the  postal  business. 

By  the  kindness  of  Timothy  F.  Hagerty,  Esq.,  our 
popular  postmaster,  I  have  been  furnished  with  a  com- 
plete list  of  the  postmasters  of  Woburn  Centre,  with  the 
dates  of  their  several  commissions,  which  list,  now  first 
given  to  the  public,  will  be  very  interesting  to  all. 


126 


Name  of  Postmaster  Date  of  Commission. 

Ichabod  Parker,  ist,     October  3d,   1797. 

John  Wade,  2d,  May  6th,  1811. 

Benjamin  Wood,  2d,  3d,       February  7,  1816. 

Bowen  Buckman,  4th,  April  26,  1830. 

William  Woodberry,  5th,  June  6,  1849. 

A.  Elbridge  Thompson,  6th,  July  i,    1853. 

Nathan  Wyman,  7th,  May  27,  i86i. 

William  T.  Grammer,  8th,  December  20,  1882. 

Lawrence  Reade,  9th,    February  22,  1887. 

Arthur  B.  Wyman,  loth,   January  19,  1891. 

Timothy  F.  Hagerty,  nth,   February  6,  1895. 

The  location  of  the  several  post  ofl&ces  were   as 
follows,  viz: — 

ist  Parker,  P.  M.  Parker's  Tavern,  late  Mishawum 
House,  Main  st. 

2d.  Wade,  P.  M.  At  store  corner  of  Main  and  Park 
streets. 

3d.  Wood,  P.  M.  In  Wood's  Tavern,  Main  st.,  opp. 
Wade's  store  above. 

4th.   Buckman,  P.M.   In  old  Wade  store  above  named. 

5th.  Woodberry,  P.  M,  In  store  Main  street,  opp. 
E.  side  of  Common. 

6th.  Thompson,  P.  M.  In  old  Wade  store  above 
named. 

7th.  Wyman,  P.  M.  In  J.  W.  Hammond's  store, 
Lyceum  Hall  Building,  then  in  building  S.  side 
of  Woodberry 's  store,  then  cor.  of  Main  and  Wal- 
nut streets. 


127 


8th.  Grammer.   P.  M.     Corner  of  Main  and  Walnut 

streets. 
9th.  Reade,  P.  M.     Cor.  of   Main  and  Walnut  sts., 

and  at  cor.  of  Church  Ave. 
loth.  Wyman,  P.  M.     Cor.  of  Main  st.  and  Church 

ave.,  and  at  Savings  Bank  Block, 
nth.  Hagerty,   P.  M.     Savings  Bank  Block,  cor.  of 

Pleasant  and  Abbott  sts. 

Five  of  the  Postmasters  are  now  living,  viz: — 
Woodberry,  Grammer,  Reade,  A.  B.  Wyman  and 
Hagerty. 

In  this  tavern,  noted  meetings  were  held;  and  the 
bar-room  at  the  south  end  was  a  rendezvous  for  the 
town  gossips,  who  alternated  between  there.  Wade's 
store  opposite,  and  Zeb  Wyman's  at  the  corner  of 
Main  street  and  present  Montvale  avenue.  The  hall 
in  the  second  story,  was  a  great  resort  for  dancing 
parties,  whose  trained  uniform  step  and  time,  often 
shook  the  house,  as  modern  dancing  parties  do  not  do. 

This  old  tavern  occupied  in  most  part,  the  spot 
where  the  First  National  Bank  Building  now  stands, 
its  shed  on  the  north  side  extending  somewhat  on  to 
the  present  lyj'ceum  Hall  estate.  On  the  south  side 
was  quite  a  good  sized  yard. 

It  was  also  headquarters  for  military  meetings. 
In  a  copy  of  Regimental  orders  before  me,  dated  Bur- 
lington, August  28,  1823,  Wm.  Winn,  Col.  2d  Regt. 
ist  Brigade,  3d  Division,  Mass.  Militia,  ordered  the 
officers ,  non-commissioned  officers  and  musicians  be- 


128 


longing  to  that  Regiment,  to  assemble  there  on  Monday, 
Sept.  15,  1823,  at  8  o'clock,  a.  m.,  for  drilling  accord- 
ing to  law,  with  dark  colored  coats,  and  white  under- 
clothes, the  musicians  with  their  respective  uniforms. 

This  order  was  signed  by  William  Tidd,  Adjutant. 

The  tavern  had  a  two  story  projection  in  the  rear, 
the  upper  part  of  which  with  the  central  front  consti- 
tuted a  hall  for  general  purposes. 

Here  the  Freedom  Lodge  of  Masons,  the  first  in 
Woburn,  had  its  lodge  room. 

Previous  to  the  year  1824  Free  Masonry  in  Wo- 
burn was  almost  unknown. 

In  that  year  several  citizens,  who  had  taken 
degrees  in  the  lodges  of  neighboring  towns,  feeling 
that  their  interests  would  be  best  promoted  by  forming 
a  lodge  here,  presented  a  petition,  signed  by  Benjamin 
B.  Richardson  and  others  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massa- 
chusetts, at  their  quarterly  communication,  March  10, 
1824,  praying  that  a  charter  for  a  lodge  of  Masons  to 
be  called  "  Freedom  Lodge,"  be  granted. 

The  petition  on  June  9,  1824,  was  granted,  and 
William  Richardson  was  appointed  the  first  Worship- 
ful Master  of  the  lodge. 

The  meetings  were  held  in  the  hall  above  named. 
Mr.  Samuel  Tidd,  a  noted  singing  master,  was  the  first 
secretary . 

The  lodge  was  consecrated  in  the  Meeting  House, 
October  21st,  of  the  same  year,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
followingjnotice,  copied  from  the  "  Columbian  Centi- 
nel"  of  October  6,  1824. 


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129 


MASONIC. 

Freedom  Lodge  in  Woburn,  will  be  consecrated, 
and  its  officers  Installed  on  Thursdaj^  the  21st  day  of 
this  month,  the  services  in  the  Meeting  House  will 
commence  at  ten  o'clock,  forenoon,  after  the  public 
ceremonies,  the  brethren  will  proceed  to  the  pavilion, 
at  the  Locks,  to  partake  of  a  dinner,  to  be  provided 
by  Mr.  Gillis.  The  Fraternity  in  the  vicinity  are 
respectfully  invited  to  attend. 

Tickets  for  the  dinner  may  be  had  at  the  bar  of 
Wood's  Tavern  in  Woburn,  and  at  the  store  of  J. 
Goodwin  in  Charlestown. 

It  is  to  be  wished  the  brethern  who  intend  dining 
as  above,  would  take  their  tickets  as  soon  as  the  Mon- 
day preceding. 

SamueIv  Tidd,  Sec'ry." 
Woburn,  October  6,  1824. 

This  lodge  was  prosperous  for  many  years,  but 
the  Morgan  excitement,  and  the  anti-masonic  feelings 
at  the  time  were  so  great,  that  the  lodge  thought  it  not 
advisable  to  add  to  the  flame,  and  for  a  time  discon- 
tinued its  meetings. 

The  Lodge  was  represented  in  the  Grand  Lodge 
till  1843,  when  the  Charter  Jewels  and  book  of  records 
were  surrendered,  and  Freedom  Lodge  ceased  to  be. 

With  the  departure  of  Mr.  Wood  for  Boston,  the 
building  was  turned  into  four  stores  below,  one  being 
kept  by  J.  W.  Hammond,  with  tenements  above;  this 
continued  till  the  erection  of  the  present  Bank  Block, 
when  it  was  taken  down,  and  another  of  Woburn' s 
old  landmarks  ceased  to  exist. 

It  will,  no  doubt,  seem  almost  incredible  to  people 
of  today,  that  only  so  late  as  1835  and  later,  so  im- 
portant a  part  of  Woburn  Centre,  now  covered  with 


130 


business  blocks,  should  have  been  as  represented  by 
the  plate,  with  only  two  buildings  standing  on  the 
entire  distance  from  Union  to  Walnut  street,  but  the 
view  is  historically  accurate,  and  now  first  shown  to 
modern  eyes,  but  which,  in  a  few  short  years  it  would 
be  impossible  to  reproduce. 

For  the  matter  relating  to  the  Freedom  I^odge  of 
Masons,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  Alva  S.  Wood,  whose 
uncle  was  landlord  of  "  Wood's  Tavern." 


131 


Mary   Buckle's    Party. 
a   tai.e   of   ancient   woburn. 


The  settle  in  the  kitchen  stood 
Before  the  fireplace  filled  with  wood, 
With  four-foot  blazing  sput'ring  logs, 
High  piled  on  portly  iron  dogs; 
The  back,  high-built,  kept  off  the  chill, 
But  shins  and  toes  were  roasted,  till 
The  settle  pushed  back  near  the  door 
Relieved  the  toes,  but  chilled  the  more 
The  shiv'ring  shoulders  full  of  pain, 
Till  back  the  seat  was  pushed  again. 
The  flaming  darts  of  flick 'ring  shapes, 
Chased  shadows  'mong  the  pewter  plates 
That  shining  stood  on  dresser  shelves, 
A  hiding  place  for  the  little  elves. 
And  deeped  the  glow  of  orange  strong 
Of  squashes  strung  the  walls  along. 
The  furious  northwest  wintry  blast, 
Swept  o'er  the  chimney  as  it  passed, 
And  sent  its  growl  like  polar  bear, 
Down  on  the  inmates  snuggled  there. 
While  one  could  see  stars'  twinkling  light, 
By  gazing  up  the  throat  at  night. 
Before  the  fire  some  johnny  cake 
On  wooden  plates  was  placed  to  bake, 
While  on  a  mat,  the  pussy  cat 


132 


Was  dozing,  dreaming  of  the  rat 

That  last  night  'scaped  her  savage  claws, 

By  scamp'ring  'neath  the  "  chest  of  drawers." 

The  kettle  hanging  on  the  crane, 

Sang  'mid  the  smoke  a  doleful  strain, 

In  te^npo  with  the  tick,  tack,  tock. 

Of  the  tall,  ancient,  brass-faced  clock, 

While  Indian  pudding,  beans  and  pie, 

Were  baking  in  brick  oven  nigh. 

The  tallow  candle's  feeble  light 

Could  scarce  compete  with  flashes  bright, 

That  from  the  fireplace  danced  and  played 

O'er  well-scoured  pans,  so  primly  laid 

On  ample  shelves,  and  hung  on  hooks 

With  almanack  and  singing-books, 

The  wintry  sun  had  long  since  set 

In  golden  glories,  ling 'ring  yet 

To  greet  the  moon's  advancing  light, 

Then  leaving  her  to  rule  at  night. 

But  now  the  scene  was  being  changed, 

The  settle  'gainst  the  wall  was  ranged, 

And  three  square  tables  side  by  side. 

With  snow-white  damask  well  supplied, 

"Were  set  with  cups  and  saucers  blue. 

And  ancient  plates  of  the  same  hue. 

With  knives  and  two-pronged  forks  of  steel, 

And  other  things  to  serve  a  meal. 

By  country  maid,  whose  healthy  face 

Had  ne'er  been  touched  by  rouge  or  paste; 

She  wore  a  dress  of  bombazine. 

While  round  her  neck,  gold  beads  between 

The  dainty  folds  of  flecky  lace 

Danced  in  and  out  a  brilliant  race. 

The  tables  set,  the  cooking  done, 


133 


New  candles  brought,  fresh  wood  put  on, 

The  parlor  chairs  ranged  round  the  room 

Next  to  the  wall;  the  knocker  soon 

Announced  the  coming  of  a  party, 

With  giggles,  shrieks  and  laughter  hearty: 

They  came  in  pungs  from  "  Hawker's  Square," 

And  Woburn  Centre  sent  her  share, 

While  "  New  Bridge  Village"  and  "  West  Side," 

With  "  Button  Knd"  the  rest  supplied. 

The  girls  wore  pumpkin  hoods  and  hoops, 

The  lads  had  leggins  o'er  their  boots, 

While  all  had  mittens  knit  in  stripe, 

Around  the  wrist  of  red  and  white, 

With  yellow  ribs  put  in  between 

While  all  the  rest  was  blue  or  green. 

The  cloaks  removed,  the  coats  put  off 

Mid  stifled  giggles,  whispered  laugh. 

And  sharper  sounds  heard  in  between, 

I^ike  stealing  kisses,  (that  would  seem 

By  Love's  young  dream,  from  cherry  lips, 

Were  snatched  in  stealthly,  dainty  sips.) 

The  hostess  op'ed  the  "  Best  Room  "  door. 

With  pride  she  eyed  the  white  scrubbed  floor, 

And  eagerly  the  girls  and  boys, 

All  bubbling  o'er  with  mirthful  noise 

Went  in  and  formed  a  seated  line 

All  round  the  room,  to  wait  the  time. 

To  give  the  signal  to  begin 

The  plays  they  all  delighted  in. 

But  ne'er  a  swallow-tail  was  seen, 

Nor  silken  gown  of  satin  sheen, 

But  plain  frock  coats  and  jackets  blue, 

Nice  bombazines  and  calico, 

With  calfskin  boots  and  springheel  shoes, 

And  home-knit  stockings,  grays  and  blues. 


134 

But  all  had  healthy  ruddy  faces, 

Instead  of  paleness  decked  with  laces. 

The  ample  fireplace  with  brass  dogs 

Was  all  ablaze  with  snapping  logs, 

Which  sent  a  genial  light  and  air, 

To  welcome  all  with  farmer's  fare. 

The  sperm-oil  lamps  dispelled  the  gloom 

Far  more  than  tallow  could  have  done. 

The  straight  backed  chairs  with  seats  of  flag, 

The  mats  made  up  from  many  a  rag; 

With  silk-worked  samplers,  stiflBy  hung 

O'er  landscape  paper  round  the  room. 

Showed  many  a  winter  evening's  toil, 

By  candle  light,  or  lamps  of  oil. 

Of  fingers  to  industr)'  born, 

Done  while  the  men  were  shelling  corn 

By  raking  ears  with  rasping  sound 

'Gainst  shovel's  edge,  with  cobs  around 

The  tub  wherein  the  corn  did  fall, 

In  outer  shed,  or  corn-loft  tall. 

But  see!  the  Hostess  comes  and  brings 

A  bright  tin  plate,  while  out  she  sings: — 

"We'll  roll  the  cover.  At  the  call, 

Be  prompt  and  catch  it  e'er  it  fall." 

The  cover's  twirled,  and  "  Mary  Wright," 

Is  called  in  tones  by  no  means  light; 

She  springs  to  catch  the  spinning  plate, 

But  finds  alas,  she  came  too  late. 

"  A  forfeit  pay!     Come  choose  your  judge! 

For  pay  you  must!  we  shall  not  budge!" 

"  Well"  she  replies,  "John,  I'll  have  you 

To  tell  me  what  I've  got  to  do." 

"  Go  make  a  wheelbarrow"  out  he  screams, 

' '  With  your  true-love  there,  Jacob  Eames!" 


136 


So  Jacob  sinks  down  on  one  knee, 

She  takes  a  seat  the  debt  to  pay. 

"  Hurley  Burley"  next  was  played, 

Where  seats  for  all  but  one  were  laid, 

At  call,  all  jumped  new  seats  to  find, 

So  one  of  course  w^as  left  behind. 

The  cow-bell  rings,  "  Please  stop!  tis  'time 

To  go  to  tea,  so  form  a  line," 

The  fiddle  first,  next  girl,  then  boy. 

And  march  to  the  tune  of  "  Soldier's  Joy." 

The  fiddle  plays,  the  guests  all  sing, 

And  round  the  table  form  a  ring, 

Each  one  behind  a  wooden  chair, 

Till  at  the  word  all  seated  are. 

The  board  with  beans  and  ducks  was  laid, 

With  Indian  pudding,  marmalade. 

With  chickens,  mince  and  pumpkin  pie 

And  greens  disposed  to  please  the  eye. 

What  can  I  say  ?  why  need  I  tell. 

What  each  already  knows  so  well  ? 

That  songs  were  sung,  that  jokes  were  played. 

And  eyes  with  love  to  eyes  replied. 

The  line  reformed,  at  fiddle's  sound 

They  marched  the  kitchen's  ample  round. 

While  soon  within  the  parlor  gay. 

They  played  the  fleeting  hours  away. 

' '  Here  we  stand  all  round  in  a  ring. 

For  you  to  choose  while  others  sing, 

So  choose  the  one  that  you  love  best. 

And  I  presume  'twill  suit  the  rest." 

Old  "  Copenhagen  "  next,  or  "  String  " 

Was  played,  all  standing  in  a  ring, 

Each  one  the  rope  was  asked  to  clasp. 

Each  hand  in  turn  got  slapped  at  last. 

"  Come,  Philanders,  let's  be  a-marching. 


136 


For  our  true  loves  let's  be  a-searching, 

Choose  your  true  love  now  or  never, 

And  be  sure  you  choose  no  other. 

Now  you've  got  her,  you've  got  your  part, 

And  I  am  glad  with  all  my  heart, 

Give  her  a  kiss  and  send  her  away 

And  tell  her  you'll  call  some  other  day." 

"  Drop  the  handkerchief"  next  was  played, 

'Twas  left  behind  some  boy  or  maid. 

They  next  had  "  Scorn"  and  "  Clapping  out," 

'Mid  screams  of  laughter,  merry  shout. 

Then  "  Puss  in  the  corner,"  "  Blindraan's  buff,' 

'T would  seem  they  ne'er  could  get  enough. 

Then  next  "  Hold  fast  all  I  give  you. 

Who's  got  the  button,  what  say  you?" 

Red  apples  then  were  passed  around, 

And  for  a  time  a  munching  sound 

Was  heard  with  laughter  interspersed, 

While  squeaks  and  titters  faintly  burst 

From  out  each  knot  of  girls  and  boys, 

Who  busy  were  with  suppressed  noise, 

And  nimble  fingers  picking  seed 

From  out  the  cores,  that  they  might  read 

Their  matrimonial  fortune's  fate. 

And  find  each  future  loving  mate, 

Told  by  the  number  of  the  seeds 

They  picked  therefrom,  and  so  their  needs 

Brought  oh's  and  ah's  as  in  the  search 

The  counting  left  some  in  the  lurch. 

Each  girl  then  threw  the  parings  red. 

In  graceful  curls  above  her  head, 

And  watched  them  settle  on  the  floor. 

In  form  of  A,  E,  I  or  R, 

For  by  the  letter  then  formed  so. 

Her  future  husband's  name  she'd  know, 


137 

But  soon  as  each  his  fortune  knew, 
The  tumult  louder,  sharper  grew. 
Till  from  the  burst  of  heavy  sound, 
This  song  rang  out  from  all  around, 

' '  One  I  love. 

Two  I  love, 
.  Three  I  love  I  say, 

Four  I  love  with  all  my  heart, 

Five  I  cast  away. 

Six  he  loves, 

Seven  she  loves. 

Eight  they  both  love. 

Nine  he  comes. 

Ten  he  tarries. 

Eleven  he  courts, 

Twelve  he  marries." 

And  so  it  went  from  game  to  game. 

The  object  being  all  the  same. 

To  catch  some  victim  (?)  in  some  way, 

And  then  their  debts  in  kisses  pay. 

The  forfeits  which  each  judge  decreed, 

Were  sometimes  very  odd  indeed; 

'Twas  "  measuring  tape,"  a  kiss  a  yard, 

With  outstretched  arms  before  the  crowd; 

"  Kiss  all  the  girls  "  was  "  Going  to  Rome;" 
"  Go  wish,  and  snap  the  chicken  bone:" 
"  'Twas  picking  cherries  with  a  fair 

Young  lady  from  a  two- round  chair;" 
"  You  must  kneel  to  the  wittiest, 
Make  your  bow  to  the  prettiest. 
And  kiss  the  one  that  you  love  best, 
But  don't  keep  on  and  kiss  the  rest;" 
"  Go  take  a  pillow,  kneel  with  Kate, 
And  with  her  three  good  kisses  take;" 


138 

With  others  made  with  cunning  craft 
To  suit  the  case,  provoke  a  laugh. 

But  time  flits  by  on  rapid  wings, 

And  turns  his  hourglass  while  he  sings, 

"  Pleasure  is  transient,"  that's  the  doom. 

For  e'en  the  best,  ends  far  too  soon, 

And  so  the  clock  having  struck  eleven, 

The  utmost  stretch  to  parties  given. 

The  sleds,  sleighs,  pungs  were  at  the  door. 

And  into  them  the  lassies  pour 

With  beaux  to  match,  the  good-byes  said, — 

'Neath  the  bright  full  moon  overhead 

With  jokes  and  songs,  bells'  tinkling  play, 

And  kiss  at  parting  ends  the  day. 

But  dreams  of  games  in  fairy  bowers, 

And  angels,  pumpkin  pie  and  flowers, 

With  gilded  Cupids,  wedding  cake, 

Appear  in  dreams,  till  they  awake 

And  find  th'  illusion  night  has  given 

Is  vanished  quite,  next  morn  at  seven. 

But  this  is  not  all  idle  dream 

Of  Poet's  muse,  as  it  may  seem 

To  you,  oh  reader !  for  this  story 

Is  but  a  painted  inventory. 

Made  out  with  verbal  brush  to  show 

A  party  sixty  years  ago. 

Just  as  it  was,  what  games  they  played. 

How  the  house  looked,  just  how  they  lived, 

And  since  'tis  true,  no  two  in  nature 

Are  just  alike  in  mind  or  feature, 

So  varied  all  their  talents  fall. 

Not  all  in  one,  nor  one  in  all; — 

Now  therefore,  mau}^  first  impressions, 

Are  only  fleeting,  trial  lessons. 


139 

So  little  loves  then  born,  soon  died, 
While  deeper  ones  the  night  survived, 
For  forfeits  paid  in  playing  "  string," 
Sometimes  get  forged  to  marriage  ring. 
By  Cupid's  power  of  welding  hearts 
Together  by  his  soldering  darts. 
And  so  these  parties  are  but  schools, 
Where  Cupid  teaches  without  rules. 
And  baits  his  net  with  games  and  plays. 
In  modern,  as  in  ancient  days. 


140 


The    Haunted  Oak. 
a  i^egend  of  wright's  pond,  woburn. 


"  Halt  man!  nor  dare  approach  the  spot; 
The  treasure's  not  for  thee,  ghost-guarded. 


UST  within  the  tongue  of  land  formed  by  the 
junction  of  New  Boston  and  Beach  streets,  in 


.s!^'  Woburn,  before  Clinton  street  was  laid  out' 
there  existed  a  pond,  (now  long  since  filled  up,) 
covering  an  acre  or  two  of  ground,  named 
"  Wright's  Pond,"  from  Deacon  Josiah  Wright,  who 
owned  the  present  city  Almshouse  estate,  which  then 
ran  up  to  the  pond,  and  who  claimed  title  to  the  pond 
and  the  tongue  of  land  itself,  although  his  title  to  i^ 
was  disputed  by  others  who  claimed  it,  too. 

At  the  time  of  which  I  am  writing,  there  were  no 
buildings  within  quite  a  long  distance  of  the  spot. 

This  pond  was  nearly  round.  It  was  a  favorite 
resort  for  the  boys  in  summer,  to  "go  in  swimming," 
and  to  sail  their  tiny  craft  on  its  quiet  waters;  while 
in  the  winter  it  was  equally  well  frequented  for  the 
purposes  of  skating,  and  catching  "shiners"  as  bait 


-^-         5 


141 


for  pickerel,  in  fishing  through  the  ice  on  the  greater 
ponds. 

Bloodsuckers  were  there  in  such  numbers,  that  the 
boys  frequently  found  them  on  their  legs,  when  they 
came  out  of  the  water.  Musquash  were  numerous, 
while  in  the  spring  and  fall,  wild  ducks  and  even  wild 
geese,  often  made  it  a  resting-place  in  going  north  and 
south  on  their  annual  migrations. 

On  the  southeast  side,  from  the  water's  edge  to  a 
considerable  distance  inland,  even  in  the  gravelly  land, 
cranberries  grew  in  such  abundance,  that  the  vines 
looked  like  a  thick  mat,  while  in  the  fall,  the  ground 
was  red  with  the  great  quantities  of  high  colored  fruit 
produced,  for  which  there  was  not  then,  as  now,  a 
ready  sale. 

The  whole  locality  was  a  common  unfenced  ground 
where  cows  grazed,  and  drank  from  the  pond;  where 
boys  played  and  made  bonfires;  while  nobody  seemed 
to  fence,  or  especially  care  for  it  as  owner. 

On  the  southwest  side  of  the  pond  was  a  gigantic 
oak  tree,  close  to  the  water's  edge,  with  several  huge 
branches  springing  out  of  the  massive  trunk  from  a 
common  centre,  at  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground, 
forming  a  terra  incognita,  into  which  no  eye  could  gaze 
from  the  ground,  while  from  the  dark  sayings  concern- 
ing it,  this  tree  was  held  in  fear  and  awe  by  those  who 
knew  its  history. 

Tradition  said  that  beneath  this  old  oak,  a  robber 
had  buried  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  that  it  was  con- 
cealed under  its  roots,  which  sum  of  money  had  been 


142 


obtained  by  "  deeds  of  darkness,"  committed  by  this 
same  robber,  whose  name  no  one  knew,  who  buried 
it  here  to  escape  detection,  but  never  returned  to  take 
it  away;  that  here,  in  the  dark  and  gloomy  centre  of 
the  old  oak,  into  which  the  sun  never  shone,  a  ghost, 
but  whose,  no  one  could  tell,  had  its  haunt,  constantly 
by  day  and  by  night  guarding  the  treasure,  and 
frightening  away  by  various  ghostly  contrivances,  all 
who  came  near  the  spot,  so  effectually  that  no  one, 
either  from  fear  of  the  ghost,  or  of  the  ridicule  of  the 
public,  had  ever  dared  to  dig  and  ascertain  whether 
or  not  the  story  was  true;  while  many  were  the  tales 
told  of  the  mysterious  sights  and  sounds  which  various 
persons  had  seen  or  heard,  attesting  the  truth  of  the 
old  traditions. 

One  story  was,  that  Ichabod  Parker,  of  Reading, 
the  first  landlord  of  the  Mishawum  House,  on  or  about 
April  I,  1785,  while  riding  past  the  pond,  in  the  edge 
of  the  evening,  on  his  way  to  Woburn,  to  negotiate  for 
the  purchase  of  the  estate  afterwards  known  as  ' '  Bud 
Parker's  Tavern,"  and  later  as  the  "Mishawum 
House,"  had  stopped  at  the  pond  to  water  his  horse, 
but  accidentally  approaching  the  spot  where  the  treasure 
was  buried,  had  had  a  thrilling  adventure  which  he 
never  fully  divulged,  but  of  which  he  told  enough  for 
the  public  to  know;  it  was  with  a  ghost,  from  which 
he  escaped  with  considerable  difficulty;  and  it  was 
further  said,  that  the  Deacon,  when  he  heard  of  it, 
went  to  Parker,  and  made  minute  inquiries  as  to  the 
details,  the  place  where  it  occurred,  also  particularly 


143 


what  took  place  between  him  and  the  ghost  that 
evening;  while  Parker  and  the  public  wondered  why 
he  was  so  extremely  inquisitive  about  it,  as  he  was 
usually  not  given  to  taking  notice  of  such  things;  but 
the  Deacon  very  wisely  kept  the  reasons  to  himself. 
It  was  even  told,  that  Parker,  who  afterwards  pur- 
chased of  John  Fowle,  the  Mishawum  estate,  and  also 
bought  the  ' '  Cleveland  Lot ' '  on  the  northerly  side  of 
what  is  now  Middle  street,  overlooking  the  pond,  had 
often  seen  a  light  dancing  over  the  water,  which,  on 
any  person  approaching,  would  invariably  start  in  the 
direction  of  the  oak,  while  soon  the  weird,  mysterious 
light  would  be  noticed  in  the  dark  cavity  formed  by 
the  branches,  or  gliding  up  and  down  the  huge 
trunk. 

Another  story  was,  that  Samuel  Caldwell,  senior, 
who  then  boarded  at  the  "  L,ewis  Reed  Place"  just 
above  "Hawker's  Square"  now  "Central  Square,'' 
in  coming  home  one  night  "  across  lots,"  from  the 
"East  Side,"  where  he  had  been  a  courting  Esther 
Johnson,  afterwards  his  wife,  heard  the  chink  of  money 
at  the  tree,  while  at  the  same  time  he  saw  the  ghost, 
like  a  ball  of  fire,  rise  up  out  of  the  pond,  and  approach 
him  with  dreadful  cries,  as  he  was  passing  under  the 
tree,  causing  Caldwell  to  flee  in  terror  from  the  spot. 
So  after  that,  he  took  another  "  cut  across  the  fields  " 
in  going  a  courting;  while  he  found  next  morning, 
that  a  lock  of  his  black  hair  had  been  turned  gray  by 
his  fright,  and  that  his  hat  looked  as  if  it  had  been 
scorched  on  top. 


144 


On  still  another  occasion,  a  boy  driving  cows  to 
pasture,  let  them  go  to  the  pond  to  drink.  While  they 
were  drinking,  in  wandering  round,  he  happened  to 
go  near  the  tree,  when  lo,  immediately  one  of  the 
cows  became  violently  agitated,  and  with  a  loud  bellow, 
ran  out  of  the  water,  with  her  tail  up,  when  the  boy 
perceived  with  horror,  that  the  ghost  was  on  the  cow's 
back,  holding  on  to  her  tail,  while,  as  the  cow  ran  by 
the  tree,  it  glided  from  her  up  the  trunk,  and  soon  he 
saw  it  in  the  branches;  so  boy  and  cows  fled  in  hot 
haste  from  the  spot. 

Now  tradition  said,  that  the  reason  why  Deacon 
Wright  claimed  title  to  the  land  so  strongly,  and  why 
he  was  so  very  inquisitive  as  to  what  happened  between 
Parker  and  the  ghost  was,  thai  before  Parker  met 
with  his  adventure,  the  Deacon  had  had  a  still  more 
startling  experience  with  the  same  unearthy  character. 
According  to  the  story,  the  ghost  appeared  to  Wright 
in  a  dream,  and  requested  him  to  come  at  midnight  of 
a  certain  day,  to  the  old  oak,  when  and  where  he  would 
communicate  to  him  something  greatly  to  his  advan- 
tage; but  the  Deacon  being  afraid  of  such  uncanny 
characters,  failed  to  put  in  an  appearance.  The  very 
next  night,  the  same  request  was  repeated  with  like 
results.  On  the  third  night,  the  ghost  hinted  that 
possibly  there  might  be  more  danger  in  disobeying  the 
request,  than  there  would  in  his  complying  with  it;  so 
the  Deacon  being  between  two  fires,  remembering 
what  the  ghost  had  said  as  to  his  advantage  in  attend- 
ing, and  apprehensive  that  if  he  did  not  go,  the  ghost, 


145 


who  evidently  had  power  over  him,  might  do  him  a 
serious  injury,  like  a  sensible  man,  concluded  to  meet 
the  crisis  with  firmness.  So  at  night,  he  put  on  his 
great  coat,  and  taking  with  him  his  horse-pistol,  and 
a  hay-fork,  with  fear  and  trembling  started  out  in  the 
darkness  alone,  to  fulfill  the  engagement,  while  just  as 
the  clock  struck  twelve,  he  was  under  the  old  oak. 
The  night  was  dark.  Not  a  sound  was  heard.  The 
wind  moaned  sadly  through  the  branches  overhead, 
when  suddenly  the  silence  was  broken  by  unearthly 
screams  issuing  from  the  tree,  while  at  the  same  time 
he  saw  two  balls  of  fire  apparently  glaring  at  him  from 
the  mysterious  cavity.  The  Deacon's  hair  stood  on 
end,  at  least  as  much  as  it  could  do  so,  on  account  of  the 
resistance  of  his  hat.  He  poised  his  pitch-fork  ready 
to  defend  himself,  and  examined  his  pistol  only  to  find 
that  it  was  not  loaded.  The  perspiration  started  from 
every  pore,  but  in  an  instant,  he  realized  that  it  was 
only  a  great  cat  owl,  disturbed  by  his  coming  who  had 
cried  out  and  flown  away. 

Once  more  silence  reigned.  Silence  which  every 
moment  grew  more  oppressive,  till  the  Deacon  fairly 
jumped  up  with  terror,  as  the  deep  solemn  "  hoo-hoo- 
hoo-hoo  ;  hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo  ;  hoo-hoo  ;  hoo-hoo  ;  hoo- 
hoo"  of  a  huge  bull-frog  in  the  water  near  by,  caused 
the  cold  shivers  to  again  run  up  and  down  his  back, 
till  he  could  realize  what  it  was. 

Wright,  on  thinking,  then  remembered,  that  in 
such  cases  it  was  said,  he  must  first  make  his  presence 
known,  or  the  ghost  would  not  appear,  and  even  then, 


146 


not  without  his  consent.  So  he  put  down  his  pitchfork, 
folded  his  hands,  looked  up  into  the  tree,  and  said  in 
a  solemn  quivering  voice: — "  Oh  spirit  of  the  departed, 
I  have  come  at  your  bidding.  As  I  am  unacquainted 
with  the  ways  and  capabilities  of  such  as  you  now  are, 
I  leave  it  to  you  to  give  me  such  information  as  you 
intimated  you  wished  to,  in  such  manner  as  your 
present  form  may  require,  and  mine  can  receive.  After 
which,  oh  spirit,  I  shall  expect  to  be  allowed  to  retire 
in  peace,  and  be  unmolested  in  the  future.  But  I  must 
say  as  a  Deacon,  that  I  shall  do  nothing  that  my 
conscience  will  not  approve  of.  I  shall  now  expect 
your  presence  and  communications." 

The  Deacon  ceased,  closed  his  eyes,  and  awaited 
the  answer.  When  he  opened  them  again,  a  dim  blue 
light  appeared  in  the  oak,  while  a  deep  sepulchural 
voice  said:  "  May  I  now  make  myself  visible?  Will 
your  nerves  stand  the  strain  of  seeing  a  supernatural 
being?  Can  you,  a  mortal,  be  steady  on  witnessing 
the  form  of  such  as  I  am,  if  I  somewhat  veil  myself  ? 
Put  away  your  pistol  and  pitch-fork  for  they  cannot 
injure  me.  Keep  calm,  for  I  assure  you  I  will  do  you 
no  harm,  so  speak  and  fear  not." 

The  Deacon  somewhat  reassured  by  the  tone  of  the 
spirit's  voice,  and  by  its  assurances  of  safety,  dropped 
his  pistol,  braced  himself  for  the  ordeal,  and  faltered 
out  a  faint  "yes."  Soon  the  dim  blue  light  increased 
in  size  and  brightness;  it  moved,  and  slowly  began  to 
descend  the  tree.  As  it  came  down,  it  grew  larger  and 
more  luminous,  till,  when  it  reached  the  ground,  it 


147 


it  seemed  to  the  frightened  Deacon  to  be  a  moving 
pillar  of  revolving  illuminated  smoke,   which  growing 
smaller  and  smaller,   and  nigher  and  nigher,   at  last 
disclosed  to  the  astonished  eyes  of  the  trembling  man, 
a  human  skeleton,  partly  concealed  by  a  robe  of  white, 
dimly  seen  through  the  quivering  light.     The  Deacon '  s 
teeth  chattered,  and  those  of  the  spirit  rattled,   as  it 
spoke  and  said:—   "  Deacon  Wright,   I  am  the  ghost 
of  your    father,  who  on    April    29,    1763,    committed 
suicide  by  hanging  himself  to  a  branch  of  this  oak, 
for  which  crime,   I  am  condemned  by  a  Power  whom 
none  can  resist,  to  keep  guard  over  the  treasure  which 
lies  concealed    under  the  roots  of  this  oak,    (for  the 
traditions  told  are  true,  and  the  treasure  is  here,  but 
who  put  it  here  I  am  not  at  liberty  to  divulge, )  till  you 
acquire  a  legal  title  to  this  piece  of  land,  pond  and  tree, 
without  the  payment  of  money  therefor,  and  without 
the  taking  of  any  deed  or  other  written  instrument  for 
the  same.     When  that  is  done  by  you,  or  some  other 
proper  action  is  taken  by  some  one  else,  which  I  hope 
you  will  prevent,  by  taking  the  right  course  yourself, 
which  any  good  lawyer  will  tell   you  of,   I  shall  be 
released  from  my  weary  task,  and  allowed  to  depart  in 
peace  from  this  earth,  having  expiated  my  sin,  by  these 
weary  years  of  suffering.     You  may  then  dig  up  and 
take  away  the  treasure  without  fear,  for  no  one  then 
can  claim  it,  as  you  will  own  the  land.     It  lies  just  ten 
feet  due  west  from  the  centre  of  the  old  oak's  trunk, 
under  a  great  flat  stone.     But  never,  no  never,  can 
you  do  it,  till  you  have  performed  the  conditions,  and 


148 


released  me  from  my  guardianship  over  it  b}^  so  doing. 
If  5^ou  attempt  it,  before  you  have  done  so,  I  shall  be 
compelled  to  do  my  duty,  and  seize  and  smother  you 
in  the  deadly  gas  which  surrounds  me.  Be  diligent 
and  success  is  yours.  If  you  fail  so  to  do,  beware  lest 
you  disclose  the  secret,  for  instant  punishment  will 
follow  your  so  doing. 

Depart  now  in  peace.  Remember  what  I  have 
told  you.  You  have  nothing  to  fear  unless  you  dis- 
obey. Ave  et  Vale. 

The  ghost  again  became  an  illuminated  pillar  of 
smoke,  after  which  it  decreased  by  degrees  till  it  be- 
came again  the  dim  blue  light  it  was  at  first,  as  it  slowly 
retreated  up  the  trunk  of  the  oak,  and  disappeared  in 
its  mysterious  centre. 

The  Deacon  went  quickly  home,  and  thought 
over,  without  sleeping,  the  mysterious  sights  and 
experiences  he  had  seen  and  felt,  till  morning. 

The  next  day.  Deacon  Wright  consulted  lawyer 
Joseph  Bartlett  as  to  whether  such  a  thing  could  be 
done.  The  lawyer  informed  him,  that  it  could  be,  by 
continuing  to  claim  title,  using  it  as  owner,  and  main, 
taining  his  right  adversely  as  against  all  persons,  for 
twenty  years,  when  his  title  to  the  premises  would  be 
good  at  law,  without  the  payment  of  money,  or  the 
taking  of  a  written  deed  therefor. 

The  Deacon  proceeded  to  follow  the  lawyer's 
directions.  He  put  a  fence  and  wall  across  the  easterly 
part  of  the  pond,   while  for  some  years  he  occupied, 


149 


cultivated,  and  partly  fenced  the  remainder,  but  never 
actually  perfected  his  title  to  any  part,  except  the  strip 
first  fenced  in,  of  the  easterly  part  of  the  pond,  which 
he  retained. 

So  the  Deacon  failed  to  see  the  ghost  again,  or  to 
obtain  the  treasure;  although  the  title  to  it  was  actually 
perfected  in  like  manner,  by  Alvan  Wright  Manning 
son  of  Jonas  Manning,  who  purchased  the  Almshouse 
estate,  many  years  after. 

Tradition  says  that  Wright,  having  so  failed  to 
establish  his  claim  by  "  adverse  possession,"  a  certain 
man  in  Woburn,  who  suddenly  acquired  riches,  in 
some  mysterious  manner  which  no  one  could  account 
for,  was  said,  (after  the  facts  leaked  out,)  to  have 
accidently  found  out  Dea.  Wright's  secret,  and  there- 
upon consulted  one  Andrew  Evans,  a  man  who  lived 
in  a  hut  in  the  Froghole  Woods,  near  Dea.  Wright's 
estate,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  in  league  with 
certain  powers  who  knew  more  about  dealing  with 
spirits,  than  he  did,  so  having  found  out  from  him 
how  to  exorcise  the  ghost,  he  obtained  the  treasure, 
and  released  its  guardian  from  further  duty  over  it. 

The  very  next  spring,  the  old  oak,  which  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years,  had,  without  injury,  withstood 
the  storms  of  winter,  the  tornadoes  and  lightnings  of 
summer,  and  the  ruthless  hand  of  man,  which  had, 
almost  from  time  immemorial,  been  a  shelter  for  the 
birds  who  had  safely  reared  their  young  in  its  branches, 
and  which,  in  its  green  old  age,  seemed  destined  to 
live  for  many  years  more  in  sturdy  health,  suddenly, 


160 


without  apparent  cause,  withered  away  and  died;  which 
was  unaccountable  to  the  neighbors;  but  there  were 
those  who  knew  its  history  and  why  it  perished.  So 
the  mystery  which  surrounded  it  was  revealed,  and 
the  public  learned  for  the  first  time,  the  whole  story; 
for  it  was  said,  that  the  old  oak  had  at  last  yielded  up 
its  secret;  the  ghost,  who  for  so  many  years  had  faithfully 
kept  guard  over  the  long  buried  treasure,  had  departed, 
as  its  occupation  was  gone;  while  the  gold  itself,  which 
for  so  long  had  laid  in  safety  under  its  roots,  had  been 
taken  away,  to  mingle  again  in  the  muddy  financial 
currents  of  the  world,  becoming  once  more  subject  to 
unholy  greed  and  avarice,  and  an  incentive  to  new 
crimes.  So  the  old  oak  itself,  in  sympathy,  went  with 
the  rest. 


151 


A    LOVE    DITTY. 

Being  a  sad,  but  truthful  account,  of  the  most 
doleful  and  heart  rending  condition  of  an  antient  young 
may  den  of  Woburu;  together  with  the  means  she  took, 
to  get  rid  of  her  melancholy;  and  just  how  she  was 
restored  to  health  and  happiness  in  a  remarkable  man- 
ner by  her  great  female  skill,  exhibited  in  her  diplom- 
acy with  a  certain  nice  young  man,  also  of  Woburn, 
who  happened  to  come  within  her  reach,  and  who  was 
then  and  there  inveigled  by  her  cunning  arts;  and  still 
further,  how  both  of  them  were  suddenly  shot,  while 
all  this  was  going  on;  and  what  happened  to  them 
afterwards  in  consequence. 

There  was  once  a  little  maid, 
Who  was  lonesome  as  could  be, 
And  the  reason  why  she  sighed. 
Was  because  no  beau  had  she. 


152 


So  she  sat  down  in  her  chair, 
Consolation  for  to  find, 
And  it  was  not  very  long, 
'Fore  a  thought  came  in  her  mind 

Quick  she  rose  up  from  her  chair 
And  went  down  to  the  store, 
There  of  lace  and  dainty  things, 
She  bought  a  peck  or  more. 


Then  she  went  right  straight  back  home. 
With  her  bundle  in  her  hand. 
And  her  mind  chock-full  of  schemes 
Which  in  secret  she  had  planned. 

So  she  to  her  chamber  went, 
Quick  she  shut  and  locked  the  door, 
While  right  upon  the  table's  top, 
She  all  these  things  did  pour. 

There  with  ribbons,  silk  and  lace, 
Made  a  witching,  dainty  cap, 
By  her  cunning  female  skill. 
Which  she,  laughing,  called  a  trap. 


Then  she  stood  before  her  glass, 
Where  she  attitudinized, 
And  twisted  round  and  viewed  it, 
Till  she  badly  strained  her  eyes. 

In  the  night  she  dreamed  of  beaux. 
Who  for  her  hand  did  tease, 
And  sighing,  swore  they'd  die  for  her. 
While  begging  on  their  knees. 


163 


When  Phoebus,  with  his  golden  train, 
Scared  all  her  dreams  away, 
His  flaming  light  fell  on  her  trap, 
Where  it  in  beauty  lay. 

She  took  and  put  this  dainty  cap, 
Neglige  upon  her  head, 
So  'twould  show  her  killing  curfs 
Sticking  out  through  lace  and  thread. 

So  she  smiled  a  modest  smile, 
As  she  walked  the  streets  around, 
With  her  jaunty  cap  turned  up, 
And  her  eyes  demure  cast  down. 

It  was  not  very  long  before 

A  promising  young  man, 

Came  walking  by,  with  russet  shoes, 

And  cane,  and  gloves  of  tan. 

Quick  as  a  flash,  her  eyes  of  blue, 
lyike  a  percussion  match 
Were  snapped,  with  all  a  woman's  skill. 
That  nice  young  man  to  catch. 

Like  arrows  shot  from  out  a  bow, 
Her  lightning  glances  flew. 
And  quick  as  wink,  her  female  darts 
Had  pierced  him  through  and  through. 

He  sighed,  and  groaned,  that  nice  young  man, 
But  yet  he  felt  no  pain. 
For  she  with  smiles  did  comfort  him. 
Which  made  him  well  again. 


164 


Cupid,  sly  rogue,  was  standing  by 
And  watching,  with  a  grin 
He  drew  his  bow,  and  shooted  her. 
While  she  was  shooting  him. 


She  felt  the 
darts  of  Ve- 
nus' son, 

Piercing  her 
through  and 
through; 

Her  cap  it 
wiggled  on 
her  head, 


But  his  smile  it  cured  her  too. 

Cupid  then  spoke,  and  smiling  said; 
"  'Tis  necessary  pain, 
Before  you  love  you  must  be  shot. 
You'll  soon  be  well  again." 

So  to  love's  wiles  they  did  succumb, 
And  melted  'neath  its  power, 
He  dutifully  courted  her 
As  her  accepted  lover. 

As  all  such  things  lead  to  one  end, 
A  wedding  cake  and  ring. 
And  melting  down  of  two  in  one 
By  the  Parson,  while  they  sing: — 

So  this  young  maid  and  this  young  man, 
Were  fused  nice  together 
In  moulds  of  broadcloth,  silk  and  lace, 
And  shoes  of  patent  leather. 


155 

Till  finally  they  made  a  cage, 
Queen  Anne  they  called  its  name, 
And  in  it  ever  after  that, 
She  kept  him  all  the  same. 

But  that  lace  cap  she  set  for  him, 
They  hung  upon  a  feather, 
And  each  one  left  the  arrows  there 
To  pin  their  loves  together. 

Dan  Cupid  once  peeped  in  and  heard 
A  lovely  girl,  he  saw, 
Say,  "Mama,  please  give  me  that  cap, 
Which  you  once  set  for  Pa." 


\  No,  no,  my  child,  that 
pretty  cap. 

And  arrows  hanging 
there, 

Are  sacred  to  our  mar- 
ried love, 

Which  you  now  make 
more  dear." 


' '  When  you  have  grown  to  be  a  miss. 
Who  twenty  years  can  span, 
You'll  make  a  cap  to  suit  yourself. 
To  catch  some  nice  young  man." 


156 

"  But  careful  be  at  whom  you  shoot. 
Wise  set  your  cap,  and  plan, 
You  may  in  shooting,  shooted  be, 
So  choose  a  nice  young  man." 


157 


Dunham's  Pond. 


Sweet  spot  of  charming  lake  and  wood. 
Alluring,  wild, — 

Where  Nature  poured  with  lavish  hand, 
Her  wealth  enticing  o'er  the  land, 
And  beauty  smiled. 

Thy  banks  so  shady,  cool  and  green, 
With  mossy  bowers, — 
There  birds  among  the  branches  played 
In  summer,  while  their  nests  they  made 
Midst  wildwood  flowers. 


158 

So  once  wert  thou,  oh  Sylvan  lake! 
Fair  Dunham's  shore, — 
When  water,  forest,  all  combined 
To  please  the  senses,  charm  the  mind, 
Alas!  no  more. 

But  sigh  not!  earth  is  full  of  such. 
So  be  content, — 
New  scenes  as  beautiful  abound. 
For  gems  lie  scattered  all  around, 
'Twas  only  lent. 

To  a  tired  traveler,  riding  along  a  dusty,  country 
road  in  the  heat  of  a  summer's  day,  nothing  gives 
greater  pleasure  than  the  sight  of  a  pretty  sheet  of 
water,  like  a  mirror,  overhung  with  trees,  in  a  quiet 
nook  of  the  forest. 

The  swallows,  like  phantoms,  are  seen  skimming 
over  its  surface,  in  their  graceful  evolutions  after  their 
pre}^; — the  kingfisher  with  his  belted  coat,  darts  from 
some  dead  bough  like  an  arrow,  uttering  his  rapid 
chattering  notes,  resembling  the  sound  of  a  watchman's 
rattle,  as  he  speeds  in  a  straight  line,  to  his  nest,  in  a 
hole  of  the  bank  overhung  with  ferns,  on  the  other  side, 
carrying  in  his  bill,  something  which  he  has  just 
caught  for  his  mate,  who  is  patiently  sitting  on  her 
eggs  watching  for  his  coming;  the  frogs  in  green  livery 
lazily  croak,  as  they  pursue  their  housekeeping  avo- 
cations in  the  water,  under  the  lily  pads;  —  myraids  of 
birds,  make  the  surrounding  forest  a  musical  bedlam 
with  their  different  songs;  while  over  and  through  all, 
the  insects  furnish  a  droning  accompanfment  to  the 


169 


grand  concert; — the  air  is  redolent  with  sweet  scents 
of  the  lily,  swamp  pink,  wild  rose,  and  spicy  pepper 
bush,  while  the  whole  scene  is  suggestive  of  quiet, 
dreamy,  luxurious  enjoyment,  in  Nature's  own  way, 
far  from  the  artifical  noise,  vexations  and  cares  of 
ordinary  humdrum  life. 

Such  scenes  were  more  common  in  Woburn,  sixty 
or  more  years  ago,  than  now. 

The  cutting  off  of  the  forests,  gives  the  sun  an 
opportunity  to  reach  the  earth,  and  exhaust  its  mois- 
ture, which  used  to  form  the  rills,  brooks  and  small 
ponds  of  former  days,  and  nourished  the  multitudes  of 
flowering  shrubs,  and  berry  bushes,  which  adorned 
their  banks. 

Dunham's  Pond,  now  drained,  was  one  of  such 
beautiful  small  sheets  of  water  in  Woburn,  which  are 
growing  scarcer  every  year.  It  was  situated  at  the 
heighth  of  ground,  between  Main  and  New  Boston  sts. , 
just  north  of  Eaton  Avenue,  at  Central  Square,  con- 
taining about  eight  acres,  according  to  an  ancient  plan, 
now  extant,  and  was  named  after  a  Mr.  Dunham,  who 
owned  much  land  there. 

In  common  with  all  such  sheets  of  water  at  that 
time,  it  was  the  home  of  the  mink,  muskrat,  and 
numerous  aquatic  birds,  while  wild  pigeons,  crows, 
quail,  woodcock  and  partridges,  made  their  nests  in  the 
surrounding  forest.  Wild  geese  and  ducks  in  variety 
staid  over  here  for  sometime,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  on 
their  annual  migrations.  The  sides,  nearly  all  round, 
were  fringed  with  large  bushes  of  the  bilberry,  loaded 


160 


down  every  season  with  enormous  crops  of  big,  spicy 
berries,  while  the  surrounding  hills  were  blue  with  the 
shorter  clumps  of  the  high  bush  blueberry, 

Kere  in  berry  time,  could  be  heard  the  chatter  and 
laughter  of  the  girls  and  boys,  with  "  barks''  tied  round 
their  waists,  who  were  picking  the  rich  blue  harvest, 
with  an  enjoyment  superior  to  the  more  stilted  and 
formal  pleasures  of  the  present  day. 

At  noon,  these  berry  pickers,  with  stained  hands, 
cheeks  and  lips,  could  be  seen,  sitting  in  a  ferny  nook, 
beside  the  pond,  sheltered  from  the  sun,  by  Nature's 
dense  green  umbrella,  the  air  deliciously  cool  and  soft, 
as  it  was  wafted  by  the  gentle  summer  breeze,  over 
beds  of  lilies,  clethra,  and  azalea,  bringing  with  it,  that 
subtle  woodland  scent,  which  has  long  been  sought  for 
in  vain  by  makers  of  perfumery,  eating,  with  an  appe- 
tite unknown  to  the  pale  children  of  a  city,  their  simple 
but  substantial  luncheon,  washed  down  by  draughts 
of  ice  cold,  clear  water  of  the  spring  close  by,  out  of 
birch  bark  cups  that  would  hold  water,  made  quickly, 
by  the  boys  on  the  spot;  while  at  tea  time,  these  pick- 
ers could  be  seen,  trudging  home,  each  with  a  pail  or 
basket,  containing  from  eight  to  fifteen  quarts  of  great, 
bright  blue,  firm  fruit,  not  found  in  such  perfection, 
in  our  modern  markets,  and  bunches  of  long  stemmed 
water  lilies,  slung  over  their  shoulders. 

In  the  fall,  when  the  forests  were  all  aflame  with 
the  great  masses  of  crimson,  yellow  and  purple  glory; 
when  the  swallows,  orioles,  and  other  summer  frequen- 
ters of  the  spot,  had  departed  for  their  winter  homes 


151 


far  to  the  south;  the  ducks,  loons,  geese,  and  other 
water  fowl,  migrating  later  from  the  north,  took  their 
places,  darting  in  and  out  of  the  autumn  sunlight,  and 
shadows  of  the  rich  colored  flowers,  foliage  and  ripen- 
ing grass  at  the  edges,  as  thej^  hunted  up  their  prey 
in  the  warm  Indian  summer  air. 

This  was  the  time,  when  sportsmen  frequented  Bud . 
Parker's  Tavern,  later  the  Mishawum  House,  for  the 
purpose  of  gunning  and  fishing  at  this  pond,  then  a 
celebrated  place.  Sometimes  quite  a  number  would 
come  up  together  in  the  Boston  &  Lowell  Mail  Stage, 
or  in  the  Canal  Packet  Boat  "  Gen.  Sullivan,"  landing 
at  "Corporal  Wright's  Bridge,"  on  what  is  now  Kilby 
street,  (see  plate,)  over  the  deep  cut  still  existing 
there. 

The  pond  was  shallow,  not  over  six  feet  deep  in 
an}'  spot,  but  its  edges  curved  in  and  out  among  the 
bushes,  making  many  a  delightful  little  vista,  over- 
hung with  trees. 

Hornpouts,  pickerel,  eels  and  breams  abounded, 
and  were  caught  in  great  numbers.  A  method, 
apparently  not  known  now,  called  "bobbing for  eels," 
was  used .  A  twisted  piece  of  shoemaker '  s  thread ,  three 
feet  long,  with  a  slim  knitting-needle  "  ganged  on"  to 
one  end,  was  strung  full  of  earth-worms,  put  on  length- 
wise, then  this  string  was  doubled  up  and  up,  unti  la 
solid  bunch  of  worms  was  formed;  to  this  was  attached 
a  piece  of  lead,  as  a  sinker,  and  a  fish  line,  no  pole  was 
used,  but  the  bunch  was  let  down  over  the  side  of  the 
boat;  when  the  fish  bit,  their  teeth  became  entangled 


162 


in  the  thread,  while  before  they  could  extricate  them, 
they  were  in  the  boat,  so  there  was  no  baiting  of  the 
hook,  or  taking  oiTthe  fish  by  hand,  as  no  hook  was 
used. 

A  certain  noted  gunner  and  fisherman  of  Woburn, 
who  occasional!}^  "  c^c/  blue,'''  one  dark,  stormy  night 
in  the  fall  of  the  year,  as  he  passed  by  in  the  road,  close 
to,  now  called  "New  Boston  street,"  heard  the  loud 
"  honk,  honk,''  of  a  flock  of  wild  geese,  who  to  escape 
the  storm,  had  taken  refuge  in  the  pond  for  the  night. 
He  went  home,  got  his  gun,  loaded  it  with  a  heavy 
charge  of  large  shot,  and  himself  with  a  heavier  one 
of  Medford  rum,  then  went  back  to  the  pond,  listened 
in  the  pitchy  darkness,  and  fired  in  the  direction  of  the 
sound  made  by  the  geese.  By  this  time,  the  liquor  he 
had  taken,  began  to  operate,  so  much  so,  that  the 
heavily  loaded  gun,  in  its  recoil,  kicked  him  over,  so 
there  he  lay  and  went  to  sleep,  partly  in  the  water, 
but  luckily  with  his  head  and  shoulders  on  land. 

When  he  awoke  in  the  morning,  the  geese  were 
gone,  all  but  two,  killed  by  his  shot,  who  had  drifted 
ashore,  close  to  him;  while  he  found  that  in  addition, 
he  had  captured  two  large  eels  during  the  night,  one 
having  crept  into  each  of  his  pants  pockets;  with  all  of 
which  he  made  his  appearance  at  home  in  the  morning, 
fully  sustaining  his  character  as  a  successful  gunner 
and  fisherman. 

Tradition  says,  that  one  of  the  early  settlers,  in 
gunning  at  the  pond,  was,  by  great  success,  detained 
till  quite  dark,  when  turning  to  go,  he  was  sudden!)' 


163 


confronted  by  a  stalwart  Indian,  clad  in  deerskin 
hunting  robe,  leggins  and  moccasins,  who,  accosting 
him,  requested  that  he  would  listen,  as  he  had  some- 
thing important  to  communicate;  the  astonished  man 
sat  down  on  a  log,  when  he  told  him,  that  the  tribe  to 
which  he  formerly  belonged,  once  occupied  the  country 
all  around,  and  were  very  powerful,  but  having  in- 
curred the  displeasure  of  the  Great  Spirit,  he  sent  a 
messenger,  who  informed  them,  that  "  they  would,  by 
dissention,  dwindle  away  and  become  small  weak 
tribes,  when  a  race  of  different  color,  who  had  much 
hair  on  their  faces,  would  appear,  and  take  their  lands, 
while  they  themselves  would  disappear;  but  that 
finally,  this  new  race  would  themselves  grow  weak  and 
few,  then  the  old  warriors  of  their  tribe,  would  be  sent 
back  to  earth,  when  with  their  former  weapons,  of 
which  they  had  great  stores  in  a  cave  in  the  hill  just 
west  of  the  pond,  preserved  for  the  occasion,  they 
would  sweep  their  old  enemies  from  existence,  and 
once  more  occupy  the  land  in  all  their  former  glory." 

He  further  said,  that  "when  the  time  arrived,  a 
huge  white  bear  would  suddenly  appear  from  the  north, 
whom  none  could  overtake  or  kill,  and  that,  at  the 
appointed  time,  this  bear  would  turn  into  a  once  famous 
Indian  Chief,  who  formerly  held  sway  here,  when  this 
great  chieftain  would  lead  these  ancient  braves  of  the 
tribe  to  battle  and  victory," 

On  parting,  he  gave  him  a  charm,  consisting  of  a 
piece  of  prepared  deerskin,  with  many  strange  figures 
painted  on  it,  which  the  Indian  told  him  to  put  under 


164 


his  head  at  night,  when  he  wished  to  see  the  cave  and 
weapons,  whereupon  he  would  be  awakened,  conducted 
by  a  guide  to  the  cave,  and  allowed  to  examine  the 
secret  deposit;  but  he  must  never  attempt  it  again,  as 
his  life  would  pay  the  penalty  for  disobeying;  although 
if  he  refrained  from  a  second  attempt,  he  might  retain 
the  charm,  when  other  secrets  of  importance  would  be 
communicated  to  him  in  the  future.  'Twas  then  the 
settler  realized  he  had  been  talking  with  the  spirit  of 
a  chief  of  an  ancient  tribe. 

Tradition  further  says,  the  man  sometime  after, 
put  this  charm  under  his  pillow,  when  going  to  bed; 
at  about  twelve  o'clock,  he  was  awakened  by  a  beauti- 
ful Indian  Squaw,  who  told  him  "she  was  sent  to 
conduct  him  to  the  cave,  and  show  him  the  weapons." 

He  rose,  went  with  her,  when  on  arriving  at  the 
hill  it  opened,  disclosing  a  passage,  with  a  light  in  the 
distance.  His  conductress  led  him  along  the  narrow 
way  into  a  huge  cave,  where  he  saw  grim  old  Indian 
warriors,  almost  without  number,  going  through  a 
war-dance,  while  their  war-whoops  almost  terrified  him 
out  of  his  senses.  After  the  dance  was  over,  these 
warriors  deposited  their  weapons,  in  the  cavities  from 
which  they  had  taken  them,  and  disappeared,  leaving 
him  alone  with  his  guide  in  the  deserted  cavern. 

She  then,  after  showing  him  round  the  cave,  whose 
walls  were  covered  over  with  hieroglyphics,  led  him 
out,  waved  her  hand,  saying,  "remember  the  caution," 
and  disappeared. 

Some  months  later,  he  went  to  bed  as  usual  one 


165 


night,  but  was  never  seen  afterwards.  His  family- 
made  a  fruitless  search,  till  told  by  those  to  whom  he 
had  communicated  his  secret,  that  it  was  useless  to  look 
further,  for  that  without  doubt,  he  had  again  made  the 
signal,  again  entered  the  cave,  and  paid  the  penalty  for 
so  doing. 

After  the  matter  became  public,  a  diligent  search 
was  made  for  the  wonderful  charm,  but  that,  too,  was 
gone  forever. 

Nearly  two  centuries  after  this,  the  pond  itself 
disappeared,  together  with  its  stories  and  scenes,  ex- 
cept such  as  are  here  preserved,  for  utility  and  the 
pursuit  of  the  almighty  dollar,  destroy  the  forests, 
springs,  brooks,  and  such  beauty  spots  as  this.  So 
even  the  Gem  of  Woburn  had  to  give  way  to  the  march 
of  improvement.  The  land  over  which  the  pond  rolled 
its  silver  waves,  was  wanted  for  cultivation,  so  on  or 
about  the  year  1834,  a  drain  was  cut  by  Abel  Wyman, 
John  C.  Brackett  and  Dea.  Benjamin  Wood,  then 
owners  of  the  land,  from  the  pond  under  the  road,  now 
Main  street,  through  land  of  Abel  Wyman,  to  the 
Middlesex  Canal  at  Hawker  Square,  and  the  life  blood 
of  this  Gem  of  the  Forest,  ran  out,  leaving  a  dull  un- 
interesting blank,  which  never  was  much  cultivated, 
and  which  is  now  grown  up  to  forest;  while  the  ground 
near  its  site,  where  'the  pickers  reveled  in  the  rich 
harvest  of  berries,  is  being  cut  up  into  streets  and 
houselots.     Sic  transit  gloria  mundi. 


166 


A  Tale  of  Lake  Innitou. 


HE  Horn  Pond  House,  in  the  days  of  its  glory, 
was  known  far  and  near  as  a  place  of  fashion- 
able resort.  Its  charming  situation,  the  lovely 
lake  at  its  feet,  with  its  island  on  which  was  a 
bowling  alley  and  restaurant;  the  mountains 
surrounding  it;  the  famous  Middlesex  Canal,  then  in 
full  tide  of  success,  with  its  three  double  sets  of 
locks,  just  at  this  point,  through  which  were  constantly 
passing  numerous  boats  and  rafts  of  logs,  with  the 
passenger  boat  "  Gen.  Sullivan,"  all  combined  to  ren- 
der it  a  gem  of  attraction. 

The  hotel  had,  at  that  time,  many  boats  at  its 
wharf,  and  accidents  had  occurred  by  their  unskillful 
use. 


167 


The  incident,  told  below,  was  more  effectual  to 

stop  such  carelessness,  than  any   which  had  preceded 

it. 

The  two   lads  mentioned,  consisted  of  a   3^oung 

gentleman   named    Rice,    and    the    writer,  both  then 

students  at  Warren  Academy,  who  had  had  practical 

experience  of  the  dangers  of  the  lake.     The  physician 

employed  was  Dr.  Benjamin  Cutter  of  Woburn, 

'Twas  afternoon  of  a  sultr}'  August  day, 

The  sun  along  the  breast  of  Innitou 

Gilded  the  tiny  smooth  topped  waves  so  bright, 

That  each  seemed  like  a  bar  of  burnished  gold, 

Rolling  its  lazy  way  o'er  silver  floor 

Through  beds  of  lilies  to  the  emerald  shore. 

The  dog-day  air  was  dead  and  motionless 

As  if  awaiting  passively  a  change. 

The  sky  looked  like  a  heated  brazen  dish 

Of  copper,  through  a  single  hole  of  which 

The  fiery  furnace  heat  burning  behind, 

Flashed  forth  too  dazzling  to  be  gazed  upon. 

Just  at  the  wharf,  two  lads  scarce  sixteen  years 

Of  age,  were  swimming  in  the  placid  lake. 

Between  the  island  and  the  northern  shore, 

A  cat-boat  handled  unskillfully  by  a  man' 

Unused  to  danger  of  a  country  lake 

Lay  motionless,  with  sheet  belayed  to  rail. 

His  eye,  not  trained  to  watch,  did  not  perceive 

The  gathering  blackness  in  the  western  sky. 

His  ear,  beguiled  by  maiden's  silvery  speech 

Was  deaf  to  the  low  mut'ring  thunder's  roll. 

The  lads  well  skilled  in  use  of  sailing  craft. 

Surveyed  the  dang'rous  scene  with  anxious  gaze, 

Till  on  the  edge  their  practised  look  discerned 


168 


An  advancing  line  of  ruffled  water, 

Showing  the  coming  of  a  furious  squall, 

"  L,et  go  the  sheet!  let  go  the  sheet!"    the}'  screamed; 

But  their  weak  words  were  lost  in  thunder's  peal, 

And  rushing  wind  which  struck  the  sail, 

And  in  an  instant  hurled  the  inmates 

Into  the  bosom  of  the  now  angry  lake. 

The  overturn,  the  frantic  screams  for  help 

Fired  the  lads  to  deeds  of  noble  daring. 

No  earthly  aid  was  near  save  their' s  alone. 

But  even  their  young  arms  were  ready  trained 

To  render  goodly  aid  in  the  times  like  that; 

They  launched  a  boat  into  the  seething  lake, 

They  shipped  the  oars,  and  pulled  with  force  of  men. 

The  contest  came  between  the  active  lads, 

And  the  fierce  storm-god  riding  on  the  wind, 

The  stake  for  which  they  rowed  was  Life  or  Death. 

Under  their  nervous  strokes,  the  boat  shivered 

As  it  struck  the  gale  and  gathering  waves 

"Which  threw  the  foamy  crests  far  o'er  their  heads, 

And  for  a  time  the  shell  almost  stood  still; 

But  slowly,  rod  by  rod,  they  conquered,  till 

The  vict'ry  gained  at  last,  the  wreck  was  reached; 

But  did  they  come,  alas!  too  late  to  save 

The  struggling  inmates  of  the  o'erturned  boat? 

Two  ladies  were  below  the  waves,  the  man 

Was  clinging  to  the  rigging  safe  for  then; 

A  lady's  head  was  seen  beneath  the  boat. 

When  quick  as  flash  the  boat  hook  grabbed  her  dress. 

While  soon  the  helpless  form  was  safe  aboard, 

And  left  awhile  to  grapple  for  the  other. 

Quick  for  your  life;  Oh  God!  too  late,  she'd  gone! 

But  no,  the  active  hook  refused  to  come 

Till  their  united  strength  brought  to  the  top 

The  last,  whom  they  at  first  despaired  of  saving. 


169 


Their  little  boat  had  quite  too  large  a  load 
For  such  a  gale  as  that;  her  thwarts  were  near 
The  water,  but  they  went  before  the  storm, 
And  skill  in  handling,  yet  might  save  their  charge; 
The  waves  came  in,  and  one  must  stop  and  bail 
To  save  the  craft  from  sinking  'neath  their  feet. 
The  tiny  boat  just  as  she  neared  the  shore, 
Went  down  with  all  on  board:  but  willing  hands 
Leaped  in,  and  helped  the  struggling  boys  to  land 
Their  human  freight  safe  on  the  soft  green  grass 
Beneath  the  trees,  where  skillful  aid  and  care, 
In  time  restored  the  seeming  dead  to  life. 
Meanwhile  the  man  was  rescued  from  the  wreck, 
And  the  sad  lesson  o'er  again  was  learned; 
' '  Never  attempt  to  sail  our  flawy  lakes 
Unless  the  boat  is  in  most  skillful  hands." 


170 


The  Mousall    House. 


'  Too  nurses  *  less  undaunted  then  the  rest, 
ffirst  houses  ffinish;  thus  the  Girle  gane  drest  \ 
Johnson's  verse,  17th,  and  i8th,  lines. 


^H^DWARD  CONVERSE  enjoys  the  distinction 

WM^^  °^  having  built  the  first  dwelling  house  in  \Vo- 

*^^|^burn,  as  the  town  was  originally  constituted; 

dr%    this  was  on  the  Aberjona  river,   in  the  centre 

<^      of  the  present  town  of  Winchester,  which  house 

was  finished  early  in  the  season  of  1640,  a  plate  of 

which  will  be  found  in   "  Legends  of  Woburn,"  First 

Series,  page  33. 

On  February  29,  1641,  Woburn  Centre  was  selected 
after  considerable  opposition,  as  the  site  for  the  new 
village,  and  John  Mousall,  the  third  of  the  thirty-two 
original  signers  (Edward  Johnson  and  Edward  Con- 
verse being  the  first  two)  of  the  town  orders  of  1640, 
late  in  the  fall  of  1640  erected  one  on  "  Hilly  Way," 
now  Montvale  Avenue,  so  to  him  belongs  the  credit  of 
having  built  the  first  dwelling  house  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  city  of  Woburn. 

*  Edward  Converse  and  John  MousaH. 


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171 


The  plate  gives  an  accurate  representation  of  this 
second  of  the  two  ' '  howses  or  cradles ' '  in  which  the 
infant  town  was  nursed. 

This  house  was  not  made  of  logs,  as  might  be 
supposed,  in  fact,  no  log  cabins  were  ever  known  to 
exist  in  Woburn,  but  like  Converse's  before  it,  and  the 
First  Church  and  Parsonage  after  it,  had  a  hewn  oak 
frame,  covered  with  boards;  it  also  had  a  chimney 
made  of  bricks,  glass  windows,  and  was  finished  with 
imported  hardware,  while  within,  it  was  divided  into 
four  low  studded  rooms,  two  below,  and  two  half  high 
chambers  above,  with  a  little  front  entry  and  narrow 
stairs. 

All  this  is  not  surprising,  when  it  is  remembered 
what  strides  Charlestown,  close  to,  had  then  made, 
having  numbers  of  such  houses,  lumber  for  sale,  and 
ships  constantly  importing  material;  indeed  it  was  not 
like  starting  in  a  wilderness,  far  beyond  the  reach  of 
civilized  help,  for  in  this  case,  it  was  in  reality  at  their 
very  doors,  Woburn  being,  at  the  time,  an  outlying 
village  of  Charlestown,  with  constant  communication 
between,  while  Converse's  saw  mill  was  only  two  miles 
away,  and  another  at  Menotomy,  now  Arlington,  built 
as  early  as  1637.  Originally,  the  old  domicile  had  no 
projection  or  shed  part,  although  in  later  years  one 
must  have  been  added,  for  such  an  appendage,  appa- 
rently very  old,  was  attached  to  it  when  it  was  burned. 

There  is  good  reason  for  saying,  judging  from  old 
documents,  that  when  the  house  was  built,  the  roof 
was  thatched,  like  those  of  small  English  cottages; 


172 


but  that  being  found  unsuitable  for  the  climate  here, 
owing  to  the  dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  liability  to  its 
catching  fire,  etc.,  that  shingles  were  afterwards  substi- 
tuted. 

This  probably  was  not  painted  at  first,  none  of 
them  were,  though  it  must  have  been  later,  for  some 
of  our  oldest  people  remember  that  it  retained  in  its 
latest  years,  marks  of  having  been  of  a  yellow  color. 

In  this  house,  the  settlers  with  their  wives  had  a 
meeting,  the  first  probably  ever  held  in  Woburn,  to 
thank  the  Lord  for  prospering  their  endeavors  in  found- 
ing the  town  and  church,  and  obtaining  a  meeting- 
house site  on  George  Bunker's  lot,  which  was  on  our 
present  common,  about  where  the  band  stand  now  is. 

It  was  also  in  this  house  that  the  first  meetings 
of  the  church  in  Woburn  were  held,  and  business  done, 
after  their  primar}^  organization  at  Graves'  house  in 
Charlestown  on  Dec.  i8,  1640,  where  they  chose  Edw. 
Johnson  first  town  clerk,  and  made  a  set  of  by-laws. 

This  old  relic  of  forefather  da3's,  was  burned  on 
the  night  of  March  5,  1835,  it  was  then  unoccupied, 
and  the  fire  was  probably  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

The  date  of  the  fire  given  in  the  first  series  of  these 
legends,  is  incorrect  no  doubt,  that  date  being  1833. 

The  precise  spot  where  it  stood,  has  long  been  a 
mooted  question,  but  recent  investigation  has  placed 
the  matter  beyond  a  doubt;  and  the  author  is  especially 
indebted  to  Miss  Susan  E.  Edgell  for  valuable  and 
positive  information  on  the  subject. 

On  November  3,  181 5,  Betsey,  wife  of  Rev.  Joseph 


173 


Chickering  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  second  Bury- 
ing Ground,  adjoining  this  Mousall  estate. 

The  slab  of  marble  on  four  granite  pillars,  covering 
her  grave,  still  remains,  from  which  the  spot  can  be 
determined.  Where  the  fence  now  stands,  was  for- 
merly a  stonewall.  This  slab  has  always  been  a  promi- 
nent object,  attracting  public  attention  up  to  the  present 
time;  it  was  southerly  of  and  directly  in  a  line  with 
the  westerly  side  of  the  old  building. 

Several  persons  now  living  distinctly  remember 
the  nearness  of  the  bouse  to  the  wall.  The  slab  is 
twelve  feet  from  the  present  fence,  while  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  house  was  five  feet  north^rl}-  from  the 
wall. 

Another  monument  fixes  the  precise  spot,  more 
accurately  yet.  Several  of  our  oldest  people  remember, 
that  a  large  lilac  bush  stood  at  the  southwest  corner, 
and  very  near  it,  so  near  indeed,  that  there  was  only 
just  space  enough  to  comfortably  squeeze  through  be- 
tween it  and  the  corner;  that  lilac  bush  is  still  standing 
to  tell  the  tale,  while  its  enormous  mass  of  old  roots, 
and  dilapidated  top,  tell  with  certainty,  to  those  versed 
in  gardening,  its  extreme  old  age,  for  the  limit  of  life 
to  these  shrubs  is  almost  fabulously  long,  being  found 
in  great  clumps  around  our  oldest  New  England  home- 
steads, on  every  hand. 

Messrs.  I^eonard  Thompson,  Alva  S.  Wood,  Alvah 
Buckman  and  Miss  Susan  E.  Edgellall  clearly  remem- 
ber the  old  building  and  its  site.  The  author,  who 
went  to  school  with  some  of  the  above  named  persons, 


174 


in  the  little  red  school  house  near  by,  retains  the  whole 
perfectly  in  his  mind. 

By  these  two  monuments,  there  to-day,  it  can  be 
stated  with  certainty,  that  the  site  of  the  memorable 
old  building,  was  just  in  the  westerly  corner  of  the 
little  piece  of  land  now  fenced  in  between  the  second 
"  Burying  Grouud  "  and  Montvale  Avenue,  and  not 
where  the  house  formerly  occupied  by  Mr.  George  W. 
Reed  now  stands,  for  the  land  up  to  and  under  that 
house  was,  within  the  memory  of  some  now  living, 
used  as  a  garden . 

Miss  Susan  E.  Edgell,  who  was  a  frequent  visitor 
to  friends  in  the  house  when  a  girl,  and  who  resided 
near  b}',  is  positive  on  the  subject.  Others,  including 
the  author,  who  were  present  at  the  fire,  also  certifj' 
to  the  above  location. 

According  to  the  very  interesting  article  on  John 
Mousall,  by  Wm.  R.  Cutter,  lyibrarian  of  the  Public 
Library,  in  the  New  England  Historical  Genealogica 
Register  for  1893,  from  which  I  quote  below,  Mousall 
was  one  of  the  seven  male  members  who  constituted 
the  church  at  its  gathering  August  14,  (24  N.  S.) 
1642,  and  afterwards  one  of  its  two  original  deacons 
till  his  decease  on  March  27,  1665.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  Selectmen  of  Woburn  for  21  years  in  succession. 
He  left  according  to  the  inventory  of  his  estate,  two 
hundred  pounds,  a  pretty  good  showing  in  those  days. 

In  his  will  probated  April  4,  1665,  his  speaking 
of  furnishing  of  the  new  room,  joining  to  the  house  of 
his  son  John  Brooks,  shows  that  another  house  existed 


175 


on  the  premises  when  the  will  was  made.  This  was 
called  the  Hi)pewell  or  Brooks  house,  which  then  stood 
easterly  of  the  first  one,  and  on  the  other  side  of  Mou- 
sall  lane  then  so  called,  but  now  Prospect  street.  The 
fact  that  the  original  house,  also,  was  at  one  time 
called  the  ' '  Brooks  House  ' '  has  led  to  a  confusion  as 
to  where  the  first  one  stood,  some  supposing  that  the 
location  was  to  the  east  of  Mousall  lane,  but  such  was 
not  the  fact,  the  two  existing  monuments,  the  living 
testimony,  and  the  will  determining  the  site  beyond  all 
question. 

It  is  fortunate  that  at  this  late  day,  an  accurate 
picture  of  the  old  building  can  be  laid  before  the  public, 
and  preserved  for  future  generations.  Also  that  the 
precise  spot  where  it  stood  has  been  determined,  and 
the  question  of  its  site  settled.  Therefore  the  thanks 
of  the  public  are  due  to  those  persons  who  have  aided 
the  author  to  preserve  these  ere  it  was  too  late. 


176 


The  ''Sounding  Board/' 


AN    ANCIENT    DITTY. 


N  olden  times,  it  was  customary  to  have  a  sound- 
!ing  board,  as  it  was  called,  suspended  over  the 
'pulpit  in  the  churches,  the  object  of  which  was 
to  give  greater  power  and  resonance  to  the 
preacher's  voice. 
This  was  like  an  inverted  umbrella  suspended  by 
the  handle,  being  concave  beneath,  and  hung  directly 
over  the  ministers  head.  Many  of  these  were  quite 
large,  and  very  ornamental;  but  a  question  arose  even 
then,  whether  it  was  an  injury  or  a  benefit  to  the  par- 
son in  speaking,  or  to  the  people  in  hearing,  so  became 
a  source  of  contention  sometimes,  as  in  the  present 
case. 

The  first  house  of  worship  of  the  Baptist  society 
in  Woburn.  referred  to  in  the  following  lines  shown  on 
page  96  of  first  series  of  these  I^egends,  had  one,  which 
was  purchased,  together  with  the  pulpit,  by  Mr.  George 
Flagg,  when  the  church  was  moved,  and  added  to  his 
museum  of  odd  things  for  which  he  was  famous.  The 
following  verses  give  an  account  of  a  contest  over  it 
at  one  time. 


177 

In  Woburii  town,  in  ancient  time, 
A  church  stood  on  the  green, 
Devoid  of  steeple,  bell  and  tower. 
But  inside  ranged  along  the  floor. 
Square  "  sheep  pen  pews  "  were  seen. 

In  front,  a  large  old  willow  grew, 
Inside,  above  the  pulpit, 
A  sounding  board  of  ample  spread. 
Suspended  hung  o'er  parson's  head, 
With  carved  work  around  it. 

Now  this  round  board  was  made  to  catch, 
The  words,  the  prayers,  the  cries. 
Which  from  the  parson's  ample  chest, 
Did  issue  forth  to  all  the  rest. 
And  give  them  greater  size. 

But  it  so  chanced,  the  parson's  voice. 
Was  doubtful,  often  wheezy. 
Sometimes  'twas  coarse,  sometimes  too  fine, 
And  worse  and  worse  it  grew  in  time, 
Till  hearers  grew  uneasy. 

The  church  a  meeting  called  to  see, 
Where  all  the  trouble  laid. 
The  parson's  friends  said  "  that  the  board 
Distorted  all  his  words  they  heard, 
And  false  impression  made." 

'Twas  therefore  moved,  they  further  hear. 

Before  they  took  a  vote. 

The  parson  really  had  not  time 

To  get  his  voice  and  board  in  line, 

Or  its  effects  to  note. 


178 

An  old  "  Grey  Beard  "  of  native  wit. 
With  answer  cute  was  ready, 
"  Why  further  hear  him,  tell  us  pray? 
We  hear  him  now  a  mile  away . 
I'm  tired  of  it  already." 

The  meeting  laughed,  but  voted  then, 

To  give  him  further  day, 

But  "  Grey  Beard  "  said,  "  to  him,  'twas  plain, 

The  question  would  come  up  again, 

When  all  would  think  his  way." 

It  was  not  long  before  the  voice, 

Grew  worse  instead  of  mending, 

'Twas  coarser  yet,  and  wheezed  much  more, 

While  harder  still  their  ears  it  tore, 

Till  all  longed  for  its  ending. 

A  second  meeting  then  was  called, 
To  which  old  "  Grey  Beard  "  came, 
He  said  the  board  was  all  correct. 
The  parson's  voice  had  bad  defect. 
Its  sound  was  still  the  same. 

He  therefore  moved,  "  the  sounding  board" 
Should  still  remain  suspended, 
While  the  cracked  voice  beneath  the  board, 
With  all  the  coarse  fine  words  they  heard. 
Removed  be,  and  ended. 

The  meeting  then,  by  rising  vote, 

At  once  agreed,  nays  none. 

The  empty  space,  new  parson  graced, 

His  words  were  smooth,  and  finely  placed, 

To  which  the  board  gave  tone. 


179 

This  church  is  now  on  Hammond  Square, 
And  shoes  are  made  therein, 
The  board  is  gone,  the  pews  are  down. 
Machines  to  sew  go  round  and  round, 
To  the  hammer's  lively  ring. 

There  souls  no  longer  is  the  theme, 
But  soles  instead  have  sway. 
The  dying  find  no  cheer  for  gloom, 
As  dyeing  clothes  takes  part  the  room. 
Cleansing  another  way. 

So  goes  the  world!  goodness  alone 
Fails  oft  to  win  the  day; 
The  choir,  the  pews  must  tickle  well, 
The  preacher  fine  his  story  tell, 
And  fashionably  pray. 

But  reader,  when  you  go  to  church, 
Keep  charity  in  mind, 
The  choir  can't  always  sing  its  best. 
The  Parson's  human  like  the  rest, 
Judge  tenderly  and  kind. 


ISO 


Traditions  of  the   Knights  of 
St.   Crispin  of  Woburn. 

"  Shoes!  mute  tell-tales  of  the  man. 
The  understanding  of  the  mind,  is  made  manifest  by 
the  under- standing  on  the  feet  y 

THE    FIRST    SHOEMAKER. 


The  first  men  roamed  naked  and  barefooted,  too, 

Their  delicate  skin  was  scratched  and  cut  through, 

Till  from  blacker  and  rougher, 

They  grew  coarser  and  tougher, 

Still  no  one  ever  thought  of  clothing  or  shoe. 

Mother  Eve  she  was  shocked,  though  she  couldn't  help 

smile, 
At  parading  around  unadorned  all  the  while; 
So  she  pulled  some  big  leaves. 
From  off  the  fig  trees, 
And  made  her  a  tunic,  which  though  short,  was  good 

style. 

When  Adam  first  saw  it,  with  a  kiss  and  caress 

He  declared  that  "  surely  he  could  but  confess. 

That  though  handsome  before. 

This  improved  her  still  more," 

So  she  made  him  leaf  trowsers  to  wear  with  her  dress. 


181 


Now  Eve  was  delighted,  but  as  ev'ry  one  knows, 
Fair  woman's  nice  fancy  on  elegance  grows: — 
So  she  looked  with  disgust 
On  their  toes  in  the  dust, 

And  said  "  I  made  our  dresses,  please  make  us  some 
shoes." 

So  Adam  knelt  down,  with  large  snake  skins  a  few, 

He  found  in  the  garden  in  looking  it  through;  — 

Two  he  put  on  her  feet, 

Then  laced  them  up  neat, 

This  being  the  first  time  of  making  a  shoe. 

Now  ever  since  then,  all  the  women  and  men, 

Have  worn  what  Eve  started  long  ages  ago. 

As  the  fashions  she  set. 

Are  stylish  as  yet, 

For  a  fanciful  dress  needs  an  elegant  shoe. 

The  wearing  of  artificial  clothing  is  one  of  the 
distinctive  characteristics  of  man,  separating  him  from 
all  other  animals,  while  by  the  kind  of  foot-wear  used, 
we  determine  his  standing  in  the  scale  of  civilization 
in  the  different  ages  of  the  world,  and  relatively,  one 
nation  from  another;  it  would,  therefore,  be  not  only 
extremely  entertaining,  but  very  instructive  to  trace 
the  "  evolution  of  the  shoe,"  from  its  earliest  mention 
in  history,  down  to  the  dainty  productions  of  our  modern 
workmen  of  the  order  of  St.  Crispin,  but  such  an 
attempt,  though  feasible,  would  not  only  require  a 
book  by  itself,  but  besides  be  foreign  to  the  scope  of 
the  present  purpose,  therefore  only  a  ver>'  short  intro- 
ductory sketch  can  here  be  given. 


182 


The  Egyptian  sandal  was  the  first  known  form. 
It  was  made  of  matting,  turned  up  in  front,  to  protect 
the  toes,  and  secured  to  the  foot  by  thongs  passing  over 

the    toes,    instep    and    heel. 

From  this  sprung  the  military 

article,  which  had    a    sort  of 

metal  shield  often  ornamented 

to  protect  the  shin. 

The  Assyrian  was  made  with  a  leather  or  wooden 

sole,  the  heel  part  of  which  was  leather,  this  also  was 

bound  on  by  thongs,"  passing  over  the  instep  and  heel, 

or  by  a  button  or  rings  to  secure  it  to  the  toes  w'hich 

were  bare.  Sometimes  they 
were  made  of  matted  rushes, 
especially  the  Egyptian  which 
showed  finer  plaiting,  and  nicer  work  as  the  ages 
passed  by.  From  these  sprang  the  Roman  military 
form,  and  the  improved  civic  sandal,  with  later,  the  dec- 
orated Buskin,  covering  the  ankles,  both  very  elabo- 
rately made  and  ornamented. 

Nearly  contemporary 
with  the  Egyptian  sandal, 
and  as  some  authorities  say, 
even  before  it,  came  the 
Carbatine;  this  was  more 
universal  and  simple  than 
the  sandal,  but  though  not 
not  so  comely,  was  even 
more  comfortable  and  practical  ,as  it  covered  the  whole 
foot,  and  was  not  liable  to  work  loose.     It  consisted  of 


183 


a  single  piece  of  skin  or  leather,  on  which  the  foot  was 
placed;  then  brought  up  and  laced  by  thongs  passed 
through  holes  at  the  edge.  This  form  is  still  used  in 
some  parts  of  the  world,  especially  by  savage  tribes, 
and  even  in  Italy  among  the  poorer  classes. 

As  in  old  Egyptian,  Ass3'rian  and  Roman  days, 
when  the  rank  or  condition  of  the  person  was  in  great 
measure  shown  by  the  cut,  weave  or  ornaments  of  his 
sandals  or  buskins,  so  in  our  own  ancestors  time, 
and  now,  foot  clothing  was  and  is  a  sure  sign  by  which 
all  persons  express  their  traits,  peculiarities,  or  position 
in  society.  Just  notice  the  feet  of  people  as  you  go. 
See  the  dandy  with  his  feet  squeezed  into  a  patent 
leather  or  fancy  shoe,  much  too  small  for  him,  with  his 
toes  pinched  up  in  a  fox-nosed  box-point,  evidently 
foreign  to  the  shape  of  his  pedal  extremities,  and  all 
this  done  for  extreme  style  and  to  show  as  small  a  foot 
as  possible,  but  he  pa3\s  the  penalty  for  violating  the 
lavv'S  of  nature,  by  raising  a  crop  of  corns  and  bunions, 
besides  putting  his  feet  out  of  shape.  He  carries  his 
character  and  makeup  prominently  public,  to  be  read 
by  all.  See  many  of  the  ladies  with  an  equally  unsuit- 
able shoe,  while  in  addition  to  the  evils  suffered  by  the 
dandy,  still  worse  ones  are  incurred  by  them,  owing  to 
the  high,  small  heel,  which  soon  wears  off  on  the  out- 
side, squeezing  the  toes  unnaturally  down  into  the 
already  insufficient  space  afforded  them,  producing 
deformities,  miser}^  and  the  necessity  of  visiting  a 
chiropodist  quite  often,  besides  injuring  the  ankles  by 
the  rolling  motion,  and  outward  turning  of  the  feet  by 


184 


the  uneven  wearing  of  the  heels,  spoiling  the  shoe  at 
the  same  time  in  running  the  counters  over  outwardly, 
done  merely  for  fashion's  sake,  and  against  the  plainest 
common  sense.  See  the  people  who  take  a  practical 
view  of  life,  with  shoes  of  sufficient  width,  and  broad 
low  heels,  giving  the  foot  proper  room,  and  natural 
position  ;  such  people  walk  firnih' and  not  cringingly. 
Notice  the  artisan,  the  laborer,  and  others  whose 
vocations  require  it,  having  foot-wear  easy  to  their  feet. 
Notice  the  different  kinds  of  material  of  which  these 
indispensable  articles  are  made,  from  the  fancy  patent 
leathers,  delicate  kids,  moroccos  of  queer  cuts,  some 
of  which  can  be  hardly  buttoned  or  laced  up  by  the 
wearers  at  all,  down  through  the  calfskins,  cowhides, 
and  cloth,  light  and  heavy,  sewed  and  pegged,  pointed 
toes,  and  some  with  almost  no  toes  at  all,  and  one  can 
with  reasonable  certainty,  tell  the  various  classes, 
characters  and  conditions  of  the  wearers,  the  light  and 
flippant  from  the  steady  going;  the  solid-from  the  dudes, 
and  the  high-flyers  from  the  learned,  merely  by  these 
signe-a-pieds ,  for  each  carries  his  character  sign  on  his 
pedal  extremities.  It  has  been  said,  "  that  a  gentle- 
man can  be  told  by  the  state  of  his  linen,  and  the  style 
of  his  cravat,"  and  a  lady  by  the  condition  of  her  hair, 
and  what  ornameiits  she  wears,  but  of  all  signs,  the 
"  sign  of  the  shoe  "  is  the  best  indicator  of  character. 
Our  native  Indians,  when  the  first  settlers  came 
here,  w^ore  a  variety  of  Carbatine,  which  they  called  a 
moccasin.  It  consisted  of  a  single  piece  of  deerskin, 
sufficiently  large  to  cover  the  foot  and  ankle,  to  which 


185 


in  cold  weather,  was  added  a  fringed  leggin  al:;o  made 

of  deerskin.  These  red  men 
had  the  art  of  tanning,  or 
rather  cleansing,  softening 
and  preserving  the  skins  by 
the  ashes  and  juices  of 
plants,  and  by  rubbing,  so 
they  were  the  first  tanners, 
curriers,  and  shoemakers  of 
Woburn.  These  Carbatines 
or  moccasins  were  laced  up 
over  the  feet,  with  narrow 
strips  of  deerskin,  put  through  holes  at  the  sides  and 
toes ;  they  were  ornamented,  often  very  highly,  in 
figures  by  various  dyes,  which  the  Indians  knew  how 
to  make,  by  burning  designs  on  them  with  a  hot  point, 
and  by  working  ornaments  thereon  with  colored  moose 
hair,  and  small  porcupine  quills,  some  of  them  were 
quite  artistic,  the  squaws  being  especially  dexterous  at 
such  work,  and  made  artistic  ones  for  themselves. 

These  Carbatines  were 
even  used  by  some  of  the  first 
settlers  on  particular  occa- 
sions, on  account  of  their 
[lightness  and  comfort  for  the 
feet,  while  to  the  Indians 
they  were  invaluable,  much  better  for  them  than  the 
white  man's  more  clumsy  foot-wear,  because  in  hunt- 
ing or  in  war,  their  almost  noiseless  tread  in  these 
*'  silents  "  enabled  them  to  approach  game  or  enemies, 


186 


without  being  discovered,  while  on  a  race  or  a  journey, 
they  were  vastly  superior  to  heavy  leather  shoes. 

Our  Aboriginees  in  winter,  also  wore  a  snow-shoe, 
which  was  a  light  wooden  frame,  about  two  feet  in 
length,  and  one  foot  broad,  nearly  in  shape  like  a 
squash  seed,  but  tapering  to  a  long  point  behind.  This 
frame  was  woven  thickl}'  all  over,  with  very  narrow 
strips  of  raw  hide,  to  which  moccasins  were  fastened. 
These  snow-shoes  being  broad,  the  feet  did  not  sink 
in  the  snow  while  walking,  so  like  water-birds  having 
long  toes  with  membranes  between,  going  lightly  over 
the  soft  mud,  the  wearer  with  them,  traveled  and  pur- 
sued game  over  the  deep  snows,  nearly  or  quite  as  well 
as  on  hard  ground.  The  colonists  made  common  use 
of  the  ''Soulier  de  neige''  adopting  the  native  form, 
make  and  materials,  which  use  continued  very  common 
here  as  late  as  the  year  1840,  indeed  the  game  oi  pelote- 
de-neige  or  snowball  on  snow-shoes,  now  common 
among  the  Indians  of  Canada,  was  a  favorite  one  with 
our  Aboriginees,  while  no  doubt  our  valleys  and  hill- 
sides in  winter,  rang  with  the  whoops  and  laughter  of 
the  braves  and  pappooses  playing  this  game  on  snow- 
shoes,  long  before  our  ancestors  came  here,  for  the 
Indians  are  not  the  stoics  in  private  life  they  are 
represented  to  be,  as  it  is  only  in  the  presence  of  whites, 
or  of  enemies,  that  they  put  on  the  stoical  indifference, 
they  so  well  know  how  to  do. 

So  it  seems  that  the  very  first  shoes  manufactured 
in  Woburn,  were  these  Carbatines  and  snow-shoes. 

The  first  foot  clothing  of  civilized  life  worn  by  the 


j*eiiiit*H£^^^^ 


187 


settlers  came  from  England.  It  consisted  of  two 
patterns,  viz: — a  brogan  style,  with  flaps  to  tie  up  in 
front,  over  which  in  winter  were  worn  leggins,  made 
like  a  firm  knit  stocking,  coming  up  to  the  knees.  The 
other  kind  was  a  low  cut  shoe,  of  nearly  the  same 
pattern,  but  made  of  lighter  stock,  which  later,  was 
almost  exclusively  worn,  especially  when  sviall  clothes 
came  into  fashion.  The  low  cut  shoes  sometimes  were 
tied,  but  oftener  fastened  with  a  large  bow,  or  with 
buckles,  frequently  made  of  silver.  Both  styles  were 
hand  sewed,  pegged  ones  being  a  more  modern  inven- 
tion. 

The  woman  wore  calfskin  shoes,  with  low  broad 
heels,  cut  and  made  very  much  like  those  for  men,  to 
which  in  winter  were  often  added  leggins.  These 
shoes  quite  early  began  to  give  place  to  those  made  of 
kid  or  morocco. 

But  the  settlers,  by  stern  necessity,  soon  learned 
to  depend  upon  themselves  for  what  they  wore,  so 
accordingly  we  find,  that  one  of  the  first  things  started 
to  supply  pressing  needs,  was  tanning  and  currying 
leather.  Gershom  Flagg  had  such  a  shop  in  the  edge 
of  the  Town  Meadows,  just  north  of  the  "  Training 
Field.'"  Another  was  established  by  the  brothers 
John  and  Francis  Wyman,  at  what  is  now  Central 
Square  on  the  main  road,  therefore,  no  doubt,  it  was 
not  many  years  before  Woburn  supplied  itself  with 
sufl&cient  materials  for  making  boots  and  shoes,  not 
only  for  itself,  but  for  market,  by  home  manufacture. 

With  the  coming  of  native  leather,  came  the  work- 


138 


men  and  skill  to  make  and  repair  these  indispensable 
articles  of  dress.  This  gave  rise  to  the  two  allied 
trades  of  manufacturing  leather  and  shoemaking,  which 
of  necessit}^  were  the  first  mechanical  industries  of  any 
account  in  Woburn. 

At  first  there  were  no  shoe  shops.  The  shoe- 
makers, like  those  of  some  other  trades,  coopers, 
tinkers,  and  repairers  generally,  went  round  from  house 
to  house,  on  foot,  with  their  kit  and  some  stock  in  a 
bag  slung  over  their  backs  seeking  work  ;  when  found 
they  sat  on  a  chair,  or  the  settle,  by  the  kitchen  fire, 
spread  their  tools  on  a  box  or  anything  handy,  then 
worked  away  making  and  repairing,  till  the  jobs  were 
done,  then  departed  for  another  place. 

This  method  was  called  ' '  ivhipping  the  cat, ' '  which 
has  since  passed  into  a  cant  phrase,  signifying  going 
round  doing  the  same  thing  over  and  over  ;  this  in  turn 
gave  rise  to  another  saying,  viz; — "  ivhipping  the  devil 
round  a  .s/?^w/>,"  which  means, doing  something  in  some 
odd  or  unusual  way,  which  could  not  be  done  by  a 
regular  method.  This  "whipping  the  cat"  system 
was  in  use  for  a  long  time. 

Gradually, however, as  people  grew  more  numerous, 
skill  was  acquired,  finer  shoes,  especially  for  ladies 
wear  were  made,  while  soon  shoemaking  became  the 
leading  manufacturing  industry  of  Woburn. 

As  a  stock  of  lasts,  patterns,  leather  and  other 
materials  had  to  be  kept  constantly  on  hand,  to  suit 
the  various  cases  and  fashions  as  they  came  up,  and 
they  came  up  oftener  than  before,  the  practice  of  the 


189 


best  workmen  going  from  house  to  house  was  discon- 
tinued, while  soon  all  the  shoemakers  worked  in  their 
own  dwellings,  frequently  in  the  kitchen,  but  oftener 
in  a  small  room  in  the  shed  part,  or  in  a  chamber. 
Gradually  the  custom  grew  up  of  building  small  shops 
in  the  yard,  ten  to  tv\-elve  feet  square,  of  which  in  the 
year  1798  there  were  twenty-two,  in  each  of  which, 
from  one  to  five  worked  on  low  benches,  on  women's 
and  misses  sewed  shoes,  while  most  of  the  men's  boots 
and  shoes  were  made  elsewhere,  and  bought  in  Boston, 
or  in  Woburn  stores,  which  for  a  long  time  kept  such 
goods  for  sale,  till  at  last  a  few  shops  sprung  up  for 
custom  work  in  that  line. 

At  that  time  the  small  bosses  frequently  cut  out 
stock  in  a  corner  of  the  shop,  and  worked  with  the  men. 
John  lycathe's  grandfather  and  othersof  the  earliest 
makers  used  to  take  their  shoes  to  Boston  in  a  small 
handcart,  or  in  winter  on  a  sled  on  foot,  stand  in 
Faneuil  Hall  Square,  then  the  recognized  place,  and 
sell  their  goods  from  out  their  carts,  in  the  same  way 
as  venders  in  the  open  air  street  markets  of  some  parts 
of  Europe  do  to-day;  others  did  the  same  thing,  selling 
various  productions  at  the  same  time  b}'  their  side. 
These  markets  came  to  be  held  on  stated  days,  and 
lasted  for  a  long  time. 

In  1837  while  there  were  only  four  tanneries  here, 
employing  seventy-seven  hands,  the  shoe  business  had 
so  increased  as  to  give  work  to  383  men,  and  320 
women  in  town,  besides  a  large  number  in  the  neigh- 
boring villages,  to  which  work  was  regularly  sent  by 


190 


the  Bosses,  while  even  as  late  as  1850  there  were  26 
boot  and  shoe  manufactories,  many  of  them  large 
establishments,  employing  many  cutters,  drivers  and 
clerks,  in  addition  to  the  numerous  small  shops  and 
rooms  used  by  the  workmen,  while  the  women  were 
largely  called  upon  to  bind  and  trim  the  dainty  pro- 
ducts of  Woburn's  skill  and  industry;  indeed  for  many 
years,  Woburn  shoes  were  all  the  go,  nothing  else 
suited  so  well,  ranking  higher  than  those  made  in 
L,ynn  or  elsewhere,  and  well  they  merited  the  praise, 
£or  they  were  all  hand  sewed,  not  machine  made, 
fashioned  by  the  best  of  workmen,  while  the  bosses  kept 
in  the  front  rank  of  progress.  Some  of  these  establish- 
ments, notablj-  those  of  Samuel  S.  Richardson,  Jona- 
than Farnsworth,  Choate  &  Flanders,  and  Nichols, 
Winn  &  Co.,  employed  hands,  both  men  and  women, 
even  by  hundreds ;  while  of  the  leather  shops  at  the  same 
time,  there  were  only  thirteen.  But  in  1865  while  the 
boot  and  shoe  industry  employed  203  men  and  105 
women,  the  leather  business  had  so  increased  that 
there  were  4  shops  for  the  manufacture  of  patent  and 
enamelled  leather  with  58  workmen,  and  of  leather 
factories  there  were  21,  with  554  hands,  or  25  shops 
and  612  employees. 

In  earlier  days  the  small  manufacturers  who  had 
only  one  to  three  workmen  had  to  eke  out  a  living  by 
a  little  farming,  while  many  of  the  hands  when  busi- 
ness was  dull  in  the  summer,  went  to  the  ''Banks" 
fishing  on  a  "  lay;'^  while  others  worked  a  haying  or 
harvesting  among  the  farmers. 


191 


Women's  shoes  were  the  only  work  done  for  the 
market  in  Woburn.  These  consisted  of  ''cacks,"  or 
infants'  shoes,  misses'  and  ladies'  wear. 

The}'  were  of  various  kinds.  Turns  or  runrounds, 
springheels^  welts,  heeled  welts,  and  hnitations. 

In  the  making  of  "  turns,"  the  only  sole  used,  was 
tacked  on  the  last,  then  ''rounded  on''  that  is,  cut 
close  round,  a  ver}'  little  larger  than  the  last,  and 
moulded  close,  the  edge  was  bevelled  down  quite  thin, 
then  a  "■  chayineV  or  cut  was  made  slanting  round  the 
sole  heel  and  all,  in  which  holes  were  made  with  a 
curved  awl,  to  get  a  hold  for  the  stitches,  then 
the  upper  was  ''lasted  on,'"  that  is,  put  on  the  last, 
wrong  side  out,  and  held  in  place  by  "steel  tacks," 
till  sewed;  then  with  a  waxed  thread,  with  bristles  at 
the  ends,  the  sole  and  upper  were  sewed  together, 
through  the  holes  made  with  the  awl,  after  which  the 
work  was  trimmed  close  and  hammered  down,  the  last 
was  taken  out,  the  shoe  turned,  leaving  the  sole  and 
upper  right  side  out,  relasted,  "  longsticked  down," 
the  edge  pared  off  true  with  a  short  keen  edged  paring 
knife  and  pewter  fender  inserted  between  the  upper 
and  the  knife  as  the  work  progressed,  to  prevent  the 
upper  from  being  cut  in  the  operation,  the  edge  was 
carefully  moulded  up  to  the  upper,  blacked,  slicked 
with  a  ' '  shoulder  stick, ' '  the  bottom  scraped  with  a  steel 
scraper,  having  an  edge  turned  on  it  with  a  smooth, 
pointed  steel,  or  with  a  piece  of  glass,  which  had  been 
broken  for  the  purpose,  by  means  of  a  notch  at  the 
edge  made  with  a  file,  to  give  it  keen   cutting  power. 


192 


then  sand-papered,  stamped  with  a  little  steel  die,  aj 
the  tack  holes,  lined  with  sheepskin  or  cloth  put  in 
with  paste,  and  the  work  was  done.  Some  of  these 
"runrounds"  were  extremely  light  and  delicate,  weigh- 
ing only  a  few  ounces,  being  often  made  of  fancy  kids 
or  moroccos,  and  sometimes  of  satin  or  silk.  They 
were  at  times  trimmed  with  rosettes,  and  heldjin  place 
by  two  long  ribbons  herring-boned  around  the  ankles. 
The  price  paid  for  making  "turns,"  was  for  misses 
from  15  to  20  cents  per  pair,  and  for  women,  from  20 
to  30  cents,  according  to  the  quality,  and  the  skill  of 
the  workmen,  while  four  pairs  was  considered  a  good 
days  work.  Some  of  these  in  early  days  had  what 
were  called  "  <:r(7^^-«^/ "  heels  two  inches  high,  made 
of  wood  covered  with  white  sheepskin  glued  on. 

Springheels  were  lasted,  sewed  and  turned  like 
runrounds,  only  in  sewing  the  heel  part  was  left  loose 
and  unsewed,  until  the  shoe  was  turned,  then  a  "  /z//  " 
was  inserted  under  the  loose  sole  of  the  heel,  with  the 
part  of  the  lift  next  the  shank  ''skived'"  gradually 
thinner,  then  the  grain  on  the  outside  of  the  heel,  was 
cut  under  thinly  a  quarter  of  an  inch,  turned  up,  a 
^'  channeV  cut  beneath  for  the  stitches  to  settle  into, 
then  the  heel  part,  lift  and  the  innersole  were  sewed 
together  through  and  through,  with  a  straight  awl, 
after  which  the  grain  or  flap  was  turned  back  in  place, 
and  firmly  stuck  down  with  channel-wax ,  leaving  no 
stitches  in  sight,  then  the  shoe  was  finished  like  a 
"  turn,"  and  left  on  the  last  till  dry.  The  price  paid 
for  making  these   was  for   misses'    18   to   25   cents, 


[93 


women's,  28  to  35  cents.  Three  pairs  was  considered 
a  good  days  work. 

Welts  were  made  as  follows: — the  innersole  was 
first  tacked  on  the  last,  grain  side  in,  "  molded  down" 
and  "  rounded  on;"  a  channel  was  made  all  round 
except  at  the  heel,  the  "  upper  "  was  put  on  right  side 
out  and  "  braced  over''  the  innersole  with  stitches,  a 
* '  welt, ' '  which  was  a  thin,  narrow,  firm  strip  of  leather 
was  tacked  on,  then  the  innersole,  upper  and  welt  was 
firmly  sewed  together,  by  stitches  through  the  channel 
and  welt,  leaving  the  edge  of  the  welt  projecting  beyond 
the  upper;  then  the  outersole,  of  firm  oak  tanned  Balti- 
more sole  leather  was  tacked  on  over  all,  grain  side 
out,  molded  down  with  a  hammer  and  rounded  on, 
the  grain  was  cut  under  and  channel  made  beneath, 
as  in  heels  of  springheels,  then  the  outersole  and  welt 
were  firmly  sewed  together  with  fine  stitches  wel] 
''  snapped  in,'"  the  heel  was  made  and  sewed  spring- 
heel  like,  the  fine  outside  stitches  on  the  welt  were 
evened  and  made  prominent  by  a  special  tool,  then  the 
shoe  was  finished  off  as  above  described  for  spring- 
heels.  The  price  paid  for  making  welts  was  from  42 
to  50  cents  per  pair,  two  and  one  half  pairs  being  con- 
sidered a  good  day's  work. 

Imitations,  so  called  because  made  to  resemble 
welts,  were  constructed  like  springheels,  only  the  sole 
was  usually  thicker,  and  not  beveled  at  all  at  the  edge, 
so  as  to  show  the  full  thickness  of  the  sole  like  a  welt. 
The  price  was  from  35  to  40  cents  per  pair,  three  pairs 
being  a  good  day's  work. 


194 


In  finishing  welts  and  imitations,  ''hot  kiV^  was 
used  in  latter  days,  that  is,  an  iron  shoulder-stick,  the 
end  of  which  was  heated  when  ''  slickiyig''  the  edge, 
which  gave  a  finer  finish  to  a  thick  sole. 

These  shoemakers  all  worked  on  low  seats  called 
"  shoe  benches,"  the  standing  up  bench  being  a  later 
invention.  The  kit  of  tools  was  spread  on  the  open 
space  to  the  right,  while  at  the  back  there  was  an 
elevated  place,  with  slots  to  put  the  knives.  This  kit 
of  tools  consisted  of  a  long  knife  called  a  "  skiver'^  used 
to  skive  off  the  rough  flesh  side,  to  even  the  stock,  and 
to  cut  down  the  stiffenings  for  the  counter  or  back  of 
the  shoe  to  a  fine  edge  where  required,  and  the  lifts 
for  springheels.  A  stock-knife  to  cut  stock  and  general 
rough  work.  A  rounding-on  knife  to  fit  the  sole  to 
the  last,  and  a  paring-off  knife  to  finish  the  edge,  with 
this  last  named  tool  was  a  pewter  fender  as  before 
described.  At  the  front  of  the  seat  to  the  right,  was 
a  row  of  little  places  partitioned  off,  about  five  inches 
square  each,  one  to  hold  the  steel  tacks,  another  for 
wax  to  wax  the  thread;  a  third  to  hold  tallow  used  in 
finishing;  a  fourth  for  a  sponge  to  ''wet  up''  occasionally, 
and  a  fifth  as  a  sort  of  omnium  gatherum,  as  the  shoe- 
makers called  it,  for  miscellaneous  things;  while  on  the 
larger  open  space  in  the  centre,  were  spread  a  longstick, 
on  one  side  of  which  was  inserted  a  fine  stone  like 
rubber,  made  of  emery  and  glue  moulded  into  an  oblong 
shallow  hole,  this  tool  being  used  to  rub  down  the  work 
as  it  progressed.  Two  or  three  shoulder-sticks  made  of 
cocoa,    palm  or  logwood,    with   shoulders  of  different 


195 


widths  cut  with  a  ''float''  file  at  the  ends,  to  be  used 
in   ''slicking'''  the  edge  in  finishing,  these  shoulders 
had  a  small  cut  or  crease  at  the  backside  called  a  ' '  bead' ' 
to  show  a  raised  line  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  sole. 
Some  straight  and  cur\^e  point  awls  in  w^ooden  handles; 
a  jigger  or   marker  for  general  purposes;    a  pair  of 
pincers,  or  pinchers  as  usually  called;   a   hammer,  a 
strap  to  hold  the  shoe  to  the  leg  while  sewing,  hammer- 
ing, etc.,   a  bunch  of  stiff  hog's  bristles  to  put  on  the 
ends  of  the  thread  in  sewing;  a  lapboard  on  which  to 
skive  and  prepare  stock;  a  round  flat  topped  lapstoue, 
on  which  to  hammer  stock,  crack  nuts,  etc.,  some  balls 
of  shoe  thread  in  a  drawer  beneath  the  seat;  two  or  three 
lifts  technically  so  called,  made  of  leather,  to  put  under 
the  highest  or  instep  part  of  the  upper  in  making,  to 
raise  it  more  when  needed,  a  blacking-jug  swung  at  the 
end  of  the  seat,  containing  blacking  made  by  putting 
some  iron  nails  into  vinegar,  used  to  black  the  edges 
of  the   soles,    completed   the  usual  shoemaker's  kit. 
At  the  left  hand  side  of  the  bench  was  placed  a  "stuff- 
box"  in  which  was  kept  the  stock,  that  is,  the  outer- 
soles,  innersoles,  stiffenings,  lifts,  welts,  etc.,  all  these 
had  to  be  "  wet-up  "  that  is,  soaked  in  the  "'shop  ttib" 
the  night  before,  so  as  to  be  in  proper  condition  next 
morning    for   use.     The   shoemaker's    apron   was    of 
sheepskin  or  denims,  and  this   was  spread  over  the 
tools  on  the  bench,  at  the  end  of  the  day's  work. 

The  shoemakers  when  inclined  to  grumble,  had  a 
saying,  which  was  in  imitation  of  one  in  the  "Sailor's 
Philadelphia  Catechism,"  parodied  no  doubt  by  some 


196 


one  of  the  craft,  who  had  been  to  the  West  Indies,  or 
on  a  clipper,  and  heard  the  discontented  hazed  crew 
growl  at  over  work. 

"  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor,  and  do  all  thou  art  able, 
And  on  the  seventh  wet  up  stock,  and  rock  the  cradle." 

But  little  pegged  work  was  ever  made  here,  and 
that  was  mainly  custom  boots  and  shoes  for  men. 
Abel  Wyman  at  Hawker's  Square  for  many  years  made 
top  boots,  brogans  and  lighter  work,  both  sewed  and 
pegged,  but  none  for  the  general  market.  John  C. 
Brackett  was  another  manufacturer  of  men's  work,  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Walnut  streets;  while  the 
Durens  at  the  West  Side  for  years  carried  on  the  same 
business 

The  cutting  of  stock  was  for  a  long  time  very 
wasteful,  indeed  our  modern  shoe  kings  would  grow 
rich  on  what  their  predecessors  lost  by  carelessness 
and  imperfect  methods. 

The  uppers  were  cut  by  pasteboard  patterns,  and 
not  very  close  at  that.  These  were  sent  out  and  bound 
by  women,  a  part  had  leather  binding  cut  from  sheep- 
skins, having  alternate  strips  of  black  and  white,  the 
whole  skin  put  up  with  the  uppers,  together  with  thread 
and  the  binders  themselves  cut  the  skin  so  as  to  leave 
one  half  the  strip  black  while  the  other  half  was  white, 
the  first  for  the  outside,  the  second  for  the  inside  next 
to  the  white  lining,  but  much  the  greater  part  was 
done  with  silk  galloon.  These  binders  used  a  little 
smooth  faced  stone  or  piece  of  lignum  vitse,  with  a 


197 


small  wooden  hammer  to  pat  down  the  seams  in  the 
leather  binding. 

For  this  work  the  women  were  paid  per  pair  as 
follows,  viz: — slippers,  5  cents, buskins,  Scents,  gaiters 
with  hand  worked  eyelets,  25  to  33  cents;  extra  work, 
such  as  fine  morocco  goods,  satin  uppers,  and  high 
cuts,  commanding  high  prices,  from  25  to  35  cents  per 
pair.  Many  a  woman  in  those  days,  materially  helped 
the  finances  of  the  family,  besides  doing  her  house- 
work, b)^  her  industry  in  binding  shoes.  The  writer 
knew  of  a  happy  couple  with  one  little  daughter,  who 
together  earned  one  dollar  and  forty  cents  per  day;  he 
being  a  slow  workman,  averaged  only  eighty  cents 
per  day,  while  his  wife  in  addition  to  her  other  duties, 
being  quick,  added  sixty  cents  more  to  the  treasury, 
and  yet  they  had  five  hundred  dollars  at  interest  in 
the  bank;  but  then  they  only  paid  twenty-five  dollars 
per  year  for  the  rent  of  their  tenement  of  four  rooms. 
Shoemakers  could  get  boarded  for  a  dollar  and  seventy- 
five  cents  a  week,  washing  included.  These  workmen 
were  usually  small  eaters,  often  taking  only  ten  minutes 
for  a  meal. 

Sole  leather  was  cut  in  a  still  more  wasteful  way. 
The  outer  soles,  the  best  part  of  the  side,  were  cut  by 
la5ang  a  last  on  the  leather,  scratching  round  it  rather 
carelCvSsly  with  a  jigger,  reversing  the  position  of  the 
last  each  time  to  save  waste,  because  the  heel  part 
was  narrower  than  the  ball,  then  it  was  cut  in  strips, 
and  in  that  condition  sent  to  the  workmen  to  be  divided 
into  single  soles.     The  innersoles,  with  the  stock  for 


198 


stiffenings  and  lifts  were  simply  cut  into  long  strips, 
or  left  in  large  pieces  for  the  shoemakers  to  cut  up  at 
discretion  for  themselves,  the  boss  sending  what  he 
thought  was  about  right  for  the  uppers.  The  work- 
men soon  found  out,  that  by  wetting,  stretching  over 
the  lapboard,  and  hammering  the  leather  before  cut- 
ting, they  could,  and  after  awhile  generally'did,  save 
for  themselves  quite  a  surplus,  which  came  to  be  con- 
sidered a  legitimate  perquisite,  till  the  bosses  got 
rolling  machines  and  tin  patterns  exactly  fitting  the 
lasts,  and  still  later  dies,  to  give  the  requisite  amount 
of  leather  and  no  more;so  after  that  the  outersoles,  inner- 
soles,  stiflTenings  and  lifts  came  in  bundles  just  enough 
for  the  work. 

These  little  shoe  shops  in  a  small  way,  like  the 
little  red  school-houses  were  educational  institutions, 
and  peculiar  to  the  country,  for  after  work  was  done 
evenings  in  winter  at  eight  o'clock,  the  slates  were 
brought  out  and  sums  done,  even  to  rule  of  three,  cube 
root,  and  equations,  while  some,  who  went  to  the 
"  Banks  "  a  fishing  in  summer  and  fall,  even  had  their 
tables  of  logarithms,  and  studied  navigation.  Spelling 
was  a  fad,  interest  and  discount  common,  geography 
had  a  prominent  place,  current  topics  were  discussed, 
in  short,  in  practical  studies  many  of  these  shoemakers 
could  not  be  beaten  by  the  trained  scholars  of  to-day; 
or  when  the  mood  suited,  the  checker-board  or  cards 
were  brought  out,  and  for  an  hour  or  so,  checkers, 
"  old  sledge,"  or  "  high-low-jack-and  the  game  "  held 
high    carnival    on    a   lapboard ;    while  visiting    from 


199 


shop  to  shop  for  these  purposes  was  also  very  common. 
Working  evenings,  by  custom  commenced  Septem- 
ber 20,  and  ended  March  20,  in  each  year,  all  the 
shops  complied  with  this  rule,  although  as  the  work 
was  done  by  the  piece,  no  set  hours  were  required. 

At  first  as  before  observed,  the  little  manufacturers 
worked  on  the  seat  with  their  one,  two  or  three  hands, 
while  once  a  week  or  so,  the  boss  would  go  to  Boston 
with  his  small  lot  of  shoes  in  a  hemp  bag,  in  an  open 
wagon,  going  over  Winter  Hill  instead  of  by  the  turn- 
pike, to  save  toll.  These  men  used  to  put  up  their 
horses  in  Charlestown  Square  to  save  another  toll  in 
going  over  the  bridge,  and  get  a  dinner  at  Sawyer's 
cellar  in  the  square,  lugging  their  bags  of  shoes  on 
their  backs,  unless  a  return  load  of  stock  or  groceries 
taken  in  partpay,  necessitated  riding  over.  Frequently, 
to  save  a  little  more,  two  would  go  together  if  near 
neighbors,  one  furnishing  the  horse,  and  the  other  the 
wagon  paying  for  the  horsekeeping,  costing  fifteen 
cents.  lyUther  Converse  and  Leonard  Thompson  went 
this  way  for  years,  others  did  the  same  thing,  while  it 
was  even  hinted,  that  on  cold  days  in  winter,  these 
shivering  bosses,  would  sometimes  stop  at  "  Betsey 
Baker's ' '  Inn  at  Medford,  for  a  three  or  five  cent  snifter 
to  keep  them  warm  for  the  rest  of  the  trip.  The  profit 
was  from  18  to  25  cents  a  pair,  and  fifty  pairs  a  week 
for  eight  months  in  the  year,  was  considered  a  good  bus- 
iness, as  usually  it  was  eked  out  by  a  little  farming  or 
something  else;  while  to-day  a  cent  profit  a  pair  would 
make  a  modern  manufacturer  rich  in  a  short  time. 


200 


Sometimes  loafers  would  come  in,  aud  take  a  seat 
on  the  ''  stuff -box,'''  right  in  the  way,  so  some  genius 
invented  a  "'pricker''  to  do  away  with  this  nuisance. 
This  was  a  stiff  piece  of  whalebone,  set  under  part  of 
the  lid  of  the  box,  in  such  a  way  as  to  spring  at  the 
pulling  of  a  string  carried  beneath  the  seat,  with  the 
end  coming  up  among  the  tools,  thereby  throwing  a  steel 
point  through  a  small  hole  in  the  cover,  far  enough  to 
sharply  prick  the  loafer,  a  posteriori  and  then  disappear 
from  sight.  This  sharp,  though  quiet,  reminder  had 
the  desired  effect,  not  requiring  a  repetition. 

Another  method  of  getting  rid  of  a  nuisance,  was 
to  place  a  small  pail  full  of  water  over  the  door  inside, 
so  that  when  an  unwelcome  visitor  was  under  it,  a 
string  was  pulled  just  at  the  right  time,  when  the  victim 
was  drenched,  while  the  workmen  usually  scolded  the 
clown  of  the  "  shop's  crew,"  for  being  so  careless  as 
to  leave  the  pail  up  there.  Still  another  method  was  to 
stick  up  a  sign  "small-pox  here,"  or  "closed  for  re- 
pairs," which  usually  kept  them  off  for  a  short  time. 

These  shoemakers  were  good  gunners  and  fisher- 
men, who  helped  to  keep  the  larder  of  their  boarding 
houses  well  supplied  with  game  in  its  season. 

Even  now,  to  make  a  fine  custom  shoe,  the  old 
methods  and  skill  are  required;  but  the  popular  demand 
for  cheaper  goods,  and  the  quickness  with  which  they 
can  be  put  on  the  market  in  large  quantities,  when 
trade  is  brisk,  by  machinery,  prevents  the  profitable 
employment  of  hand  labor,  except  in  the  finer  grades 
for  customers  who  are  willing  to  pay  for  them. 


201 


Sharp  competition  necessitates  the  making  of  the 
cheapest  possible  boots  and  shoes,  which  will  look  well. 
To-day  the  once  greatest  industr)'  of  our  city, 
employing  more  than  a  thousand  of  Woburn's  skilled 
men  and  women,  besides  large  numbers  in  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  has  disappeared  from  our  midst,  except  a 
few  small  custom  shops,  to  give  place  to  the  production 
of  leather.  Our  city  failed  to  keep  up  with  the  times, 
while  Lynn,  Marlboro,  Haverhill,  and  other  places, 
then  almost  or  quite  unknown  to  the  trade,  by  adopt- 
ing the  new  methods,  have  taken  our  once  prominent 
place  in  the  business;  while  our  leather  manufacturers, 
then  few  in  number,  by  the  opposite  course,  have  made 
Woburn  a  prominent  centre  of  the  leather  industry, 
both  for  foreign  and  domestic  markets. 

The  old  time  trained  sailor,  at  the  command  ' '  lay 
aloft ' '  maned  the  yards  of  the  famous  ' '  clippers, ' ' 
and  "made  sail,"  or  "close  reefed"  in  a  gale,  with 
good  nautical  skill,  but  he,  with  his  high  training  has 
gone  to  give  place  to  the  more  ignorant  deck  swabber  of 
a  modern  Atlantic  greyhound,  propelled  by  machinery; 
while  the  gang-hands  of  Lynn's  shoe  factories,  like  the 
deck  hands  of  an  ocean  liner,  see  machinery  do  the 
work,  their  brothers  of  old,  did  better  by  well  trained 
hands  and  eyes,  contented,  for  the  almighty  dollar,  to 
let  automatic  tools  do  the  fine  parts,  while  they  stand 
by,  tend  them,  and  watch  the  operation. 

But  Woburn's  skill  is  not  entirely  gone.  A  few 
manufacturers,  with  their  trained  workmen,  show  even 
now,  on  a  small  scale,  what  our  city  once  did  in  her 


202 


palmy  days,  by  making  the  best  custom  work  in  the 
market.  The  low  seat,  and  the  fine  hand  work  are 
with  us  yet,  although  in  small  amount,  but  from  its 
intrinsic  worth,  it  is  destined  to  increase  in  the  future, 
for  real  merit  and  excellence  are  always  in  demand. 

As  a  matter  of  curiosity  and  for  preservation,  a 
list  of  old  timeshoe  manufactories  and  workmen's  shops 
with  their  occupants,  locally  arranged,  is  appended 
hereto. 

WoBURN  Centre. 

John  Carroll  and  Sons,  shop  in  yard  opposite  Kilby 
street,  on  Main. 

Francis  K.  Cragin,  manufacturer  of  fine  custom 
work,  at  old  B.urbeen  House  estate,  Main  street  opp. 
Church. 

Munson  Johnson  occupied  same  Burbeen  estate 
before  Cragin,  and  worked  with  others  in  the  rear  of 
house. 

Burke  &  Mundy,  large  manufacturers  in  old  First 
Baptist  Church  Building  on  Hammond  Square,  Main 
street.     Best  quality  of  work,  50  hands. 

Dea.^ohn  Tidd  &  Son,  large  factory,  50  to  100 
workmen,  Main  street  opp.  Franklin.  Women's  fine 
shoes  for  market,  in  and  out  of  town. 

Choate^  &  Flanders,  afterwards  John  Flanders 
alone,  large  business,  100  to  200  hands,  large  2  story 
shop,  Main  street,  opposite  Franklin,  work  in  and  out 
of  town,  fine  goods 


b- 


O 


CO 


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203 


Daniel  J.  lycslie,  shop  on  south  side  of  Church 
street. 

Benjamin  F.  Wyer,  shop  north  side  of  Franklin 
street,  employed  many  hands  on  best  quality  work. 

Artemas  Reed,  Wyer's  next  neighbor,  another 
maker  of  ladies'  fine  hand  work. 

Richard  M.  Gage,  on  opposite  side  of  Franklin 
street,  maker  there  for  many  years. 

Marshall  Tidd,  neighbor  to  Gage,  fine  work. 

Parker  E.  Bancroft,  now  and  for  many  years  a 
large  manufacturer  of  choice  hand  work  for  the  market, 
large  shop  on  Franklin,  corner  of  Centre  street. 

John  C.  Brackett,  large  factory  corner  Main  and 
Walnut  streets  50  years  ago,  over  his  stable,  also  once 
had  a  shop  corner  Pleasant  and  Court  streets. 

Samuel  S.  Richardson,  one  of  the  largest  manu- 
facturers here  60  years  ago,  large  factory  corner  Main 
and  Warren  streets,  employing  hundreds  of  men  and 
women  in  Woburn  and  adjoining  towns,  went  to  Marl- 
boro with  work  once  a  week  before  it  was  a  shoe  town, 
work  best. 

Dennis  Buckman  50  years  ago  manufactured  shoes 
on  Main  street  south  of  common,  employed  about  50 
hands. 

Ira  Buckman' s  shop  now  standing,  was  on  Main 
street  opposite  Green,  employed  quite  a  number  of 
hands. 

James  D.  Taylor,  factory  40  years  ago,  on  north 
side  of  Canal,  back  of  lyibrary,  30  to  50  workmen  on 
finest  work. 


204 


Samuel  Cook,  large  manufacturer  in  factory  on 
Main  opposite  Mann  street,  50  to  75  hands,  fine  goods 
for  market. 

Cook  &  Taylor  afterwards  were  in  partnership 
there. 

Jonathan  Farnsworth,  50  years  ago,  worked  the 
finest  imported  stock;  loo  hands.  His  factory  was  at 
old  Burbeen  Place,  Main  opposite  Church  street,  finest 
work  known  far  and  near,  also  one  other  on  Pleasant 
street  at  a  different  time. 

Samuel  Smith  60  years  ago  had  a  shop  at  corner  of 
Pleasant  and  North  Warren  streets,  (Stearns'  Place,) 
20  to  30  hands. 

Benjamin  Bosworth,  fine  work  50  years  ago,  shop 
back  of  Bli  Jones  estate.  Academy  Hill,  40  to  60  hands. 

Dea.  Thomas  Richardson  and  Frederick  Flint, 
(Richardson  &  Flint,)  1835  to  50,  large  shop  with  50 
to  75  workmen,  where  Porter  street  enters  Warren 
street. 

Simeon  Weymouth  employed  25  to  50  hands  50 
years  ago,  at  shop  on  the  Joseph  Buck  Place,  W.  side 
of  Main  street,  south  of  Academy  Hill. 

Jere.  Kimball,  establishment  for  fine  shoes  50  to  60 
years  ago,  corner  of  Main  and  Pond  streets,  (  Jefferson 
House,)  50  to  75  workmen. 

Luther  Wy man's  large  establishment  was  on  N. 
side  of  Salem  street,  near  cemetery,  50  to  60  years  ago, 
50  to  TOO  hands. 

Osgood  Nichols,  shops  on  present  Dow  farm, 
Montvale  Ave. 


206 


Moses  J.  Pearsons,  shop  corner  Montvale  Avenue 
and  Bow  street. 

Luther  Holden,  small  manufacturer  of  good  work, 
6  hands.  His  shop  was  on  the  Stoughton  B.  Holden 
Place,  Montvale  Avenue. 

John  Tay,  journeyman's  work,  shop  just  north  o^ 
Winchester  line. 

Capt.  Josiah  Richardson,  shop  at  his  homestead, 
Main  street. 

Benjamin  Richardson's  shop  was  on  Main  street 
near  above,  journeyman. 

Willis  Buckman  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  his 
shop,  Main  opposite  Green  street. 

Luke  Tay's  shop  was  on  present  Lawrence  Reade 
estate.  Main  street. 

Capt.  John  Edgell  worked  in  his  shop  on  Main 
street,  opposite  old  R.R.  depot. 

Timothy  Andrews  worked  as  a  journeyman  at  his 
house  on  Main  street,  opposite  Green,  and  afterwards 
at  the  Woburn  Highlands  Station,  where  he  was  station 
agent  for  24  years. 

Mark  Allen  manufactured  shoes  for  many  years, 
occupying  several  different  shops. 

Moses  A.  Tyler  was  a  large  manufacturer  of  best 
work  with  50  to  75  workmen,  Main  street  near  Fowle. 

Capt.  William  Reed,  shop  on  Salem  street,  late 
occupied  by  Richard  Briggs. 

Samuel  W.  Russell  worked  at  shop  on  Montvale 
Avenue,  near  cemetery. 


206 


Sylvanus  Wood  had  a  shop  in  east  end  of  his 
homestead,  which  was  the  first  Parsonage  in  Woburn, 
Pleasant  street,  opposite  common. 

Alfred  A.  Newhall  carried  on  the  business  with 
lO  to  15  hands  on  Canal  street. 

Simeon  Weymouth,  shop  on  Charles  street. 

Zachariah  Hill  occupied  one  on  Pleasant  street 
near  Canal. 

Calno  Nelson  had  a  shop  on  Kilby  street,  where 
Jacob  Buckman  worked. 

Benjamin  Eaton's  was  on  what  is  now  Lake 
Avenue. 

Shad  Pierce's  was  on  same  Avenue. 

Benjamin  Burgess  had  a  shop  on  north  side  of 
Canal,  opposite  Public  L,ibrary. 

Benjamin  H.  Ober  had  one  on  Canal  street. 

Tappan  Eastman's  factory  was  on  Pleasant  street, 
now  Hart  well  estate. 

Cornelius  Richardson  60  to  70  years  ago,  had  a 
shop  in  rear  of  his  house  on  the  present  Grammer 
estate,  Warren  street. 

Benjamin  F.  Deland's  shop  was  on  Warren  street, 
Academy  Hill. 

Jonathan  Garland's  ditto. 

Jephtha  Caldwell's  ditto. 

Simon  Holden  had  a  factory  on  N.  side  of  Summer 
street,  a  few  hands. 

George  Wyer's  was  on  Wyer's  Court. 

Seth  Wyman  was  located  on  Court  street. 

Benjamin  Millett  had  a  shop  in  his  L,  Court  street. 


207 


William  T.  and  Samuel  A.  Grammer,  (Grammer 
Brothers, )  had  a  large  factory  on  Warren  St.,  Academy- 
Hill.  They  employed  about  50  workmen,  and  made 
finest  work. 

Ezra  C.  Ingalls  had  a  shop  corner  Winn  and 
Franklin  streets. 

Nathaniel  Hutchinson,  shop  on  Hammond  Square, 
on  present  homestead  of  J.  W.  Hammond,  fine  work. 

Josiah  Fowle's  shop  was  at  corner  of  Main  and 
Walnut  streets. 

Benjamin  Wood  at  one  time  occupied  a  building 
between  John  C.  Brackett's  and  the  Wood  Tavern, 
Main  street. 

Alva  S.  Wood,  shop  at  First  Parsonage  Estate, 
opposite  Common. 

William  lycathe,  shop  at  Woburn  Centre. 

Marshall  Tidd  at  one  time  occupied  shop  on 
Pleasant  street,  at  the  present  Bulfinch  Place. 

Fox  had  a  shop  in  old  L,eathe  building,  Main 
street,  opposite  Common. 

Jonathan  Garland  once  occupied  one  at  the  Stod- 
dard Place,  Main  street,  south  of  Academy  Hill. 

Charles  Pierce  had  a  factory  with  several  hands 
at  corner  of  Union  and  Montvale  Avenue. 

Francis  K.  Cragin  original  shop  for  manufacturing, 
was  on  north  side  of  Montvale  Avenue. 

Marshall  Tidd  once  had  his  shop  at  the  "  Ober  " 
Place,  Canal  street. 

Oliver  Green  in  what  is  now  the  Mechanic's 
building.  Main  street,  manufactured  best  goods. 


208 


Taylor  manufactured  in  large  building  on  the 
Capt.  Martin  Place,  Pleasant  street. 

William  T.  Choate  at  one  time  had  a  factory  at 
same  place. 

Frederick  Flint's  shop  for  manufacturing  was  at 
his  homestead  on  north  side  of  Pleasant  street,  several 
hands. 

Alvan  W.  Manning  had  a  small  factory  on  east 
side  of  Court  street. 

S.  T.  I^angley  occupied  one  on  south  side  of 
Academy  Hill. 

Harris  Johnson's  shop  was  on  east  side  of  Johnson 
street. 

Augustus  Roundy  manufactured  at  the  corner  of 
Main  street  and  Montvale  Avenue. 

C.  H.  Thwing  was  located  on  Academy  Hill. 

Centrai.    Square. 

Thomas  Holden  had  a  shoe  shop  in  the  old  Black 
House  on  road  to  New  Bridge,  and  Col.  Leonard 
Thompson  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  of  him  there, 
afterwards  Nathan  Parker  carried  on  the  business  there 
till  he  was  killed  at  the  fall  of  frame  of  Clapp  house, 
July  14,  1807. 

Lewis  Reed  60  years  ago  had  a  shop  in  his  house 
on  E.  side  of  Main  street,  above  Central  Square, 
Samuel  Caldwell  learned  his  trade  of  him  and  worked 
there. 

George  Thompson  had  one  in  L  of  house,  next 
south  of  Reed's. 


209 


Abel  Wyman's  custom  boot  and  shoe  shop  was 
on  west  side  of  Main  street,  jnst  above  the  square,  60 
years  ago.  He  made  men's  first-class  work,  three  of 
his  sons  worked  with  him,  viz: —  Austin,  Ward  and 
Winthrop  on  women's  wear. 

Eleazer  Poole,  shopon  Hawker  Square,  a  journey- 
man with  his  son. 

Oliver  Wade  succeeded  Poole,  and  worked  in  same 
shop. 

William  Young's  shop  was  on  east  side  of  "  swamp 
road"  now  L,owell  street,  previously  his  house  stood 
on  the  old  Capt.  Martin,  or  Coleman  estate  near  by  on 
Wyman  street,  where  he  worked  till  moved  to  swamp 
road. 

Col.  L,eonard  Thompson  for  many  years,  60  to  70 
years  ago,  had  a  shop  in  L,,  where  he  worked  himself 
and  sons  as  one  of  Woburn's  "shoe  bosses."  He 
employed  from  2  to  5  hands,  and  cut  out  stock  in  his 
shop;  did  what  was  called  a  "  snug  business;"  then 
while  for  years,  he  with  his  neighbor  L,uther  Converse, 
another  "  shoe  boss,"  went  to  Boston  together  in  an 
open  wagon  with  shoes  for  market ;  one  wagon 
answered  for  both  to  carry  shoes,  and  bring  back 
stock . 

Joseph  Richardson,  or  "Boss  Joe"  as  familiarly 
called,  was  noted  for  his  popular  manners.  He  carried 
on  later  a  large  business  for  many  years  in  his  shop 
on  the  east  side  of  the  "  Swamp  road,"  nearly  opposite 
Col.  Thompson's.  His  roll  of  employees  was  large, 
both  in  and  out  of  town. 


210 


Noah  Eaton  occupied  the  last  named  shop  later 
and  manufactured  for  sometime. 

Joseph  Thayer  occupied  the  large  northwest 
chamber  of  the  old  Edgell  house  in  which  he  lived  on 
"  Hawker  Square,"  60  years  ago  or  more.  His  shop 
was  the  place  where  the  "Gingerbread  Lotteries," 
then  very  common,  were  usually  drawn,  tickets  i  cent 
each,  highest  prize  16  sheets. 

The  Clapp  house  was  for  many  years  in  part  used 
for  a  shoe  shop,  previous  to  1855,  when  it  was  taken 
down. 

Charles  A.  Wyman  occupied  the  chamber  of  his  Iv 
of  his  dwelling  opposite,  as  a  shop  for  several  years. 

Capt.  Isaac  Richardson  used  his  old  Bakery  build- 
ing for  such  purposes,  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Clin- 
ton streets,  60  j^ears  ago,  where  his  sons  lyorenzo  and 
Freeman  worked  for  some  years. 

lyUther  and  Josiah  Converse  occupied  a  large  one 
story  building  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  opposite 
above,  for  a  shoe  manufactory,  employing  4  to  8  hands, 
later  I^uther  used  the  h  of  his  house  for  his  workmen, 
while  later,  he  built  a  shop  in  his  yard.  John  Hardy, 
Noah  Eaton,  Hiram  Reed,  Wm.  Page,  John  N.  Ben- 
nett, Ebenezer  Reed,  were  among  his  workmen.  His 
work  was  best  quality  women's  wear. 

lyUther  Converse,  his  first  journeyman's  shop  was 
in  the  old  Pearson's  house,  now  standing  on  Main  street, 
where  others  worked  after  him. 

Samuel  Caldwell,  who  learned  his  trade  of  L,ewis 
Reed,  afterwards  had  a  good  sized  two  story  shop  on 


211 


the  estate,  late  of  A  G.  Carter,  east  side  of  Main  street. 
He  had  a  few  hands  like  the  rest,  and  like  them  went 
to  Boston  in  an  open  wagon. 

Elijah  Wyman,  2d,  for  many  years  carried  on  the 
business,  making  fine  custom  work  in  his  shop  opposite 
Caldwell's.  His  work  was  mostly  on  orders  for  Boston 
firms. 

David  J.  Pearson's  shop  was  in  the  yard  of  his 
house  on  Beach  street.  For  many  years  he,  and  his 
sons  John  T.  and  William,  made  best  sewed  work 
there . 

William  Jordan  had  a  shoe  shop  next  to  him  on 
same  street. 

Daniel  Cummings  carried  on  quite  a  large  business 
at  Hawker  Square,  and  later  at  his  new  shop  on  Beach 
street;  his  work  was  first-class.  He  had  many  work- 
men both  in  and  out  of  town. 

Junius  Richardson,  2d,  was  another  on  Beach 
street;  first  he  used  a  chamber,  and  then  a  shop  built 
in  the  yard.  Asa  Holt  was  burned  in  that  shop  by  his 
clothes  taking  fire. 

Old  Sawyer  house,  Cleveland  Hill,  Middle  street, 
had  for  several  years  in  its  L,  a  shoe  shop,  many  work- 
ing there. 

Benjamin  F.  Wade  had  a  shop  in  his  yard  on  New 
Boston  street.     He  was  a  first-class  workman. 

Jacob  Eames's  shop  was  in  his  L^  on  same  street, 
near  house  of  Dea.  Benjamin  Wood.  His  work  was 
the  best. 

Jacob  Wright,  senior,  for  many  years  worked  in  a 


212 


shop  in  his  yard.  This  old  shop  is  still  standing  on 
Kilby  street,  at  the  site  of  "  Corporal  Wright's  bridge'' 
on  Middlesex  Canal;  after  his  death  it  was  used  by  his 
son  Jacob  for  a  long  time.  This  twelve  footer  is  one 
of  the  few  original  ones  left  standing  in  town. 

Jacob  Buckman,  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Bowen 
Buckman,  had  his  shop  in  his  shed  on  Kilby  street, 
near  that  of  Jacob  Wright.  He  worked  there  for 
many  years. 

Hezekiah  Pearsons  worked  in  old  Pearson's  house 
nearly  opposite  the  Mishawura  estate  on  Main  street. 

Deacon  Josiah  Wright  had  a  small  shoe  shop  in 
his  yard  on  the  present  Almshouse  estate.  Alvan  W. 
Manning  afterwards  worked  in  it,  later  it  was  used  as 
a  school-house  by  his  sister,  Mary  Manning.  It  is 
still  standing. 

Andrew  Kvans,  a  noted  character,  who  came  of  a 
preaching  family,  though  he  was  said  by  some  to  work 
for  the  devil  sometimes,  occupied  a  hut  in  Froghole 
woods,  where  he  kept  a  lot  of  hogs  half  wild,  and  made 
shoes.  He  lived  alone,  did  his  own  washing,  and 
ironed  his  "  biled  shirts^'  on  a  wheelbarrow. 

Benjamin  Wood  at  one  time  occupied  one  at 
Central  Square. 

North    Woburn. 

Capt.  Stephen  Nichols  about  70  years  ago,  did  a 
large  business  at  "New  Bridge,"  employing  w^orkmen 
of  both  sexes  in  large  numbers,  at  the  place  later  known 


213 


as  the  factory  of  Nichols,  Winn  &  Co.,  on  west  side  of 
Main  street.  He  not  only  employed  Woburnhelp,  but 
sent  out  work  to  the  neighboring  towns. 

Nichols,  Winn  &  Co.  succeeded  Capt.  Nichols 
at  his  old  stand,  and  increased  the  business.  For 
years  the  firm  name  was  known  far  and  near.  Their 
work  kept  large  numbers  of  Woburn's  workers,  both 
men  and  women  in  employ,  while  out  of  town  hands 
received  regularly  work  from  this  firm.  Their  goods 
went  everywhere,  and  were  noted  for  excellence, 

Cyrus  Thompson's  shop  was  at  foot  of  the  hill,  on 
E.  side  of  Kim  street,  Jonathan  and  Samuel  F.  his 
sons,  later  worked  with  him.  He  manufactured  fine 
shoes  mostly  for  the  two  Faxons  in  Faneuil  Hall 
Square,  Boston;  later  he  became  a  noted  civil  engineer 
in  Woburn. 

Moses  Winn's  shop  was  at  the  corner  of  Elm  and 
Ward  streets. 

Thomas  Poole's  was  near  Rufus  Poole's  house. 

William  Converse  had  a  separate  shop  on  E.  side 
of  Main  street. 

Oliver  Richardson's  was  on  Main  street,  near  Horse 
Car  stables. 

Luke  Tidd  at  one  time  worked  at  Baldwin  house, 
"New  Bridge  Hill." 

William  Nichols's  shop  was  at  corner  of  Elm  and 
Ward  streets,  about  the  year  1800.  He  was  a  cobbler 
for  the  workmen  on  the  Middlesex  Canal  when  it  was 
excavated. 


214 


Stephen  Nichols's  first  shop  was  on  east  side  of 
Main  street  at  Tay  place,  about  the  year  1820. 

Josiah  Brown  had  one  on  west  side  of  Main  street, 
1820  to  1825. 

Thomas  Poole  had  one  70  years  ago,  on  west  side 
of  Main  street. 

Josiah  Tay's  shop  was  at  Arch.  Tay  place,  near 
■R.R.  crossing,  70  years  ago. 

John  Eaton  worked  in  his  house,  corner  of  Elm 
and  Ward  streets,  70  years  ago. 

Christopher  P.  Hosmer's  was  at  Fi^er  place.  Elm 
street,  70  years  ago. 

Jephthah  Munroe  had  one  in  yard,  on  road  to 
Moses  Gumming 's  tannery,  75  years  ago. 

Larkin  lyivingston's  was  on  Severance  street,  60 
years  ago. 

John  O.  Page's  shop  was  near  by,  35  years  since 
past. 

Mr.  Mason  worked  in  old  Arch.  Tay  house  close 
to  bridge,  75  to  80  years  ago. 

Hiram  Fisk  had  one  in  his  barn  on  West  street, 
70  years  ago. 

Dennis  Buckman  worked  in  h  of  Perkins'  house, 
near  Old  Ladies'  Home  about  1835,  after  that  in  one 
on  opposite  side  of  street. 

Marshall  Tidd's  shop  was  in  his  yard,  Ward  street, 
half  a  century  ago. 

Hervey  Walker  60  years  ago  worked  in  one  on 
Tidd  place.  Pearl  street. 


215 


George  Poole  worked  in  shop  on  old  Poole  place, 
about  1835. 

George  Poole  above  named,  later  had  one  on  W. 
side  of  Main  street,  in  Centre. 

Josiah  I^inscott  had  his  shop  in  house,  north  side 
of  School  street  about  1850. 

Jacob  and  Josiah  Linscott's  shop  about  1840  was 
at  old  Baldwin  house. 

IvOt   Eaton   worked   at   old    Eaton   place,  above 
Centre  about  1825. 

Charles  Flagg  was  located  on  Elm  street,  opposite 
Old  Ladies'  Home. 

Frederick  W.  Flint's  shop  was  near  the  same  spot. 

South    Woburn. 

Edmund  Parker  on  west  side  road,  corner  of  Pond 
street,  carried  on  a  large  business  in  a  large  shop  in 
his  j^ard.  Charles  Choate  and  Walter  Wyman  learned 
the  trade  of  him  there,  afterwards  Choate  went  into 
business  with  him  there,  before  he  became  a  partner 
of  John  Flanders  on  Main  street,  Woburn  Centre. 

Calvin  Richardson,  1830  to  40  was  a  shoe  manu- 
facturer, with  about  20  employees  at  his  shop,  about 
where  the  Catholic  church  now  stands  on  Washington 
street. 

Joseph  and  Horatio  Symmes  at  bottom  of  Black 
Horse  hill,  did  journey  work  with  a  few  hands. 

Dea.  Nathan  B.  Johnson's  shop  was  in  his  house 
on  Washington  street,  journeyman's  fine  work. 


216 


Jesse  Wyman  had  a  small  shop  opposite  last  named 
shop. 

Munson  Johnson  &  Sons  shop  was  on  same  street, 
near  school  house. 

Samuel  B.  White,  journeyman,  shop  on  same 
street  opposite  Calvin  Richardson's. 

Samuel  Symmes,  shop  on  E.  side  of  same  street, 
Richardson's  Row. 

John  Eaton,  small  ditto,  opposite  above. 

Jonathan  Eaton,  a  boss  with  a  few  hands,  on  Jos. 
Stone  place,  same  street. 

Jesse  Richardson,  shop  on  same  street,  made  fine 
work. 

Samuel  B.  Tidd,  shop  near  above,  journeyman. 

Richard  Richardson,  ditto. 

Dea.  Calvin  Richardson,  was  located  on  same 
street,  and  Samuel  S.  Richardson  learned  the  trade  of 
him  there. 

Thomas  Richardson,  father  of  T.  R.  of  Woburn, 
had  his  shop  on  banks  of  Aberjona  river,  on  same 
street. 

Gilbert  Richardson's  shop  was  on  Main  street, 
near  Woburn  line. 

Lemuel  Richardson  once  had  a  shop  at  the  old 
Richardson  place  on  Cross  street. 


Froghole. 
Samuel  Tidd,  brother  of  Dea.  John  Tidd,  factory 


217 


at   the  "Running  Pump,"  large  business,    50  to  75 
workmen,  fine  work. 

William  Flanders,  shop  50  to  60  years  ago,  on  N. 
side  of  Salem  street,  best  of  work,  employed  50  to  75 
hands. 

John  and  Harrison  Flanders,  at  the  Samuel  Tidd 
place,  at  the  "  Running  Pump,"  20  to  40  workmen 
best  market  work.     John,  later  was  in  company  with 
Col.  Choate  on  Main  street,  w^hile  Harrison  continued 
at  same  place  for  many  years. 

Luke  Tidd's  shop  was  on  N.  side  of  Salem  street, 
in  yard.  He  with  his  son  carried  on  a  snug  business, 
and  his  son  Luke  R.  after  him,  15  to  25  hands  on  best 
work. 

Joshua  Converse,  shop  in  L  of  oldjGarrison  house 
on  S.  side  of  Salem  street,  60  to  85  years  ago;  Luther 
Converse,  J.  P.  Converse,  Sherman  Converse,  William 
Flanders  and  others  w^orked  here. 

Junius  Richardson  worked  with  others,  in  shop  on 
east  side  of  Bow  street,  journeymen. 

Junius  Richardson  2d,  used  a  chamber  of  his 
house  on  Beach  street,  opposite  Cemetery  gate,  after- 
wards a  shop  built  in  the  yard.  Asa  Holt  w^as  burned 
in  the  shop  by  his  clothing  taking  fire. 

Bartholomew  Richardson  2d,  had  a  chamber  for  a 
shop  in  his  father's  house,  corner  of  Salem  and  Bow 
streets. 

Nathan  H.  Hyde's  manufactory  was  on  Salem 
street,  just  opposite,  had  many  hands  and  did  fine  work. 

Joseph  Richardson  or  ' '  Boss  Joe  ' '  as  popularly 


218 


called,  at  one  time  had  a  factory  at  the  old  Tidd  place, 
known  as  the  "Running  Pump." 

East  Side. 

William  Totman's  large  factory  was  on  east  side 
of  Central  street,  manufactured  fine  grade  of  hand 
sewed  goods  for  market,  50  hands.  ElishaJ.  Mann  was 
with  him  later. 

Nathaniel  Wade  had  a  workshop  on  Whittemore 
place,  near  E.  W.  R.R.  bridge  50  years  ago,  employ- 
ing quite  a  number  of  hands,  fine  hand  sewed  work. 

Nathaniel  Wade  at  one  time  occupied  a  shop  on 
S.  side  Montvale  Avenue,  near  Wood's  Hill. 

Asahel  P.  Buckman's  shop  was  on  the  E.  side  of 
Central  street,  in  L,  of  house,  good  workman. 

Herman  Sturtevant  had  shop  on  same  street,  cor- 
ner Montvale  Avenue. 

Amasa  Wyman,  ditto. 

Dea.  Jesse  and  Jesse  Converse,  Jr.,  for  many  years 
had  a  shop  for  manufacture  of  shoes  on  Maple  street. 

Elijah  Leathe,  a  fine  workmen,  had  a  shop  on 
John  Eeathe  farm. 

James  Wade,  shoe  shop  for  a  long  time  east  of 
Burbank's  Mill. 

Elijah  and  Amasa  Wy man's  shop  was  on  Wash- 
ington street,  W.  of  Mill. 

Joseph  Beers  for  many  years  had  a  shop  in  E,  east 
of  Watering  Station. 


219 


Joseph  W.  Beers  had  one  beyond  on  Measures 
place. 

Reuben  Beers's  shop  was  at  his  house,  Salem  St. 

George  Fowle,  a  fine  workman,  had  a  shop  on 
Lynn  street. 

West  Side. 

Jacob  Richardson  carried  on  the  shoe  business 
with  a  few  hands,  80  years  ago  in  "heater  piece," 
junction  of  Bedford  and  Burlington  streets.  Capt. 
John  Edgell  and  Moses  Winn,  father  of  Col.  Moses  F. 
Winn,  both  learned  their  trades  there. 

George  W.  Butters,  45  years  ago,  had  a  shop  at 
the  Henry  Cummings  place,  Burlington  street.  John 
Robbins  worked  there. 

Joseph  Parker  carried  on  the  shoe  business  at  the 
Oliver  H.  Parker  place,  80  years  ago.  John  Robbins 
and  Sullivan  Simonds  served  their  apprenticeships 
there. 

Abel  Richardson  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  brick 
house  of  B.  F.  Flagg  on  Burlington  street. 

George  Richardson's  shop  was  at  KHard  place, 
corner  of  Bedford  and  Burlington  streets. 

Amos  Bulfinch  had  a  shop  on  W.  side  of  Cambridge 
street. 

Abraham  and  Samuel  R.  Duren  had  a  custom 
boot  shop  at  Durenville  for  many  years;  made  best 
work. 


220 


Nathan  Parker,  shop  on  Cambridge  street  at  old 
Nathan  Parker  place. 

J.  Addison  Parker  at  Parker  shop  as  above. 

George  W.  Butters  occupied  a  shop  at  the  old 
Fox  place,  used  once  by  Abijah  Thompson  as  his  first 
tannery.     John  Robbins  once  worked  there. 

New    Boston    Vii.i,age. 

Samuel  I^eathe  worked  in  shop  in  shed  on  E.  side 
of  New  Boston  street. 

Randolph  Wyman's  shop  was  on  road  to  Wilming- 
ton, above  village. 

Jonas  Munroe  used  one  on  Boutwell  place,  near 
Wyman's. 

Nathan  H.  Hyde's  first  shop  was  on  Shedd  place, 
above  village. 

On  the  Charles  O.  Ames  place,  was  a  shop,  70  to  80 
years  ago,  where  Charles,  Samuel  and  Elijah  Wyman 
made  shoes. 

Robert  Ames  had  one  on  his  estate,  60  to  70  years 
ago. 

John  Tay  occupied  one  at  Stephen  Richardson's 
mill,  80  years  ago. 

An  old  shop  where  several  worked,  was  in  Jacob 
Ames  house,  now  standing. 

James  Phillips,  slipper  maker,  shop  north  side  of 
Plain  street. 


221 
Button   End. 

Edward  Richardson  worked  at  journey  work  in  a 
small  long  shop  on  Cedar  street,  opposite  old  Town 
Almshouse  estate.  One  fine  morning  he  found  his 
shop  tipped  up  on  end,  after  he  had  seen  angels  in  the 
trees  the  night  before.  Bartholomew  Richardson,  2d, 
learned  his  trade  there. 

Major  Nichols  had  a  shoe  shop  on  his  homestead, 
many  worked  there. 

Barnabas  Richardson  occupied  one  near  by. 

Samuel  T.  Richardson  kept  a  store  corner  of 
Washington  and  Middle  streets,  on  a  "/i(?^/<?r  piece  of 
land,"  and  had  a  shoe  shop  in  the  second  story,  with 
several  workmen. 

WoBURN   First  Parish,  1798. 

Ivist  of  shoemakers'  shops  in  the  Parish  in  1798, 
average  size,  11  x  11  feet. 

Owners.  Dimensions. 

Capt.  Nathaniel  Brooks,  18x9  feet 

Josiah  Brown,  10  x  12  feet 

Josiah  Converse,  Jr.  11  x  11  feet 

John  Converse,  10  x  10  feet 

Jonathan  Eaton,  Jr.  12x12  feet 

Capt.  Joseph  Eaton,  8  x  10  feet 

Elijah  I^eathe,  Jr.  12  x  14  feet 


222 


Owners.  Dimensions. 
William  Nichols,  13  x  9  feet 
Jonathan  Richardson,  9x9  feet 
Joanna  Kendall,  widow,  shop  occupied  by- 
Stephen  Cummings,  7x8  feet 
Caleb  and  Joshua  Richardson,  10  x  13  feet 
Eleazer  Richardson,  half  a  shop,  6  x  13  feet 
Edward  Richardson,  12  x  14  feet 
Nathan  Richardson,  14  x  9  feet 
Jerusha  Richardson,  widow,  half  a  shop,  6  x  13  feet 
Benjamin  Simonds,  20  x  14  feet 
Samuel  Symmes,  12  x  9  feet 
Bill^Russell,  15  x  13  feet 
Jacob  Wright,  14  x  10  feet 
Bphraim  Weston,  8  x  10  feet 
Ebenezer  Wade,  12'x  20  feet 
Paul  Wyman,  12  x  10  feet 


o 


£ 
o 
O 


223 


Ye  Antient   Militia. 


The  motley  company  as  one, 
At  the  command,  break  ranks  and  run. 
These  "  sons  of  guns,"  degen'rate  pistles 
Rush  'cross  the  road  to  wet  their  whistles. 

Old  Song. 


The  word  "Militia"  is  derived  from  the  latin 
"  miles,"  which  signifies  "  a  foot  soldier,"  and  is  the 
designation  given  to  that  great  civil  force  of  a  country 
liable  to  do  duty  in  its  defense. 

Congress  has  power  to  provide  for  the  organization, 
equipment  and  discipline  of  this  great  body  of  men, 
and  for  their  government  when  in  the  national  service; 
while  the  States  have  no  authority  to  keep  troops  in 
time  of  peace,  except  by  the  consent  of  Congress;  but 
the  appointment  of  officers,  and  the  training  of  the 
militia  under  the  prescribed  national  system  is  reserved 
to  the  several  states. 

These  troops  are  in  no  proper  sense  a  standing 
army,  and  only  become  the  National  Guard  when 
called  into  actual  service  of  the  United  States  for  the 
defense  of  the  country. 


224 


Away  back  at  the  first  settlement  of  Woburn,  the 
neighbors  must  have  rehed  on  each  other  for  protection; 
and  fortunately  for  them,  at  no  time  was  our  town 
seriously  afflicted  with  the  horrors  of  savage  warfare. 

The  first  militar}^  organization  in  Woburn,  was  a 
platoon  under  the  command  of  Edward  Johnson  as 
lieutenant,  with  John  Tidd  as  sergeant. 

By  1650  there  were  enough  in  town  to  form  a 
company,  or  train  band  as  then  called,  of  which  Ed- 
ward Johnson  was  captain. 

In  1675  the  time  of  King  Philip's  war,  there  was 
one  company  of  infantry  here,  and  enough  men  more 
to  form  a  squad  of  cavalry  under  the  command  of  a 
cornet  or  lieutenant. 

In  that  war,  Woburn  had  eighty-five  men  at  least, 
who  were  in  active  service,  and  all  of  her  cavalrymen 
were  in  the  onl}^  squadron  of  cavalry  furnished  b}^  the 
four  New  England  Colonies  at  the  celebrated  swamp 
fight  at  South  Kingston,  Rhode  Island,  which  broke 
the  power  of  King  Philip  and  the  Narragansetts;  and 
where  eight  men,  of  those  the  town  sent,  were  either 
killed  or  wounded. 

In  1690  she  had  aboutjtwentj^  men  in  the  expedition 
against  Quebec,  including  several  of  her  leading  citi- 
zens; while  at  that  time  there  were  two  military  com- 
panies here. 

In  1730  or  soon  after,  the  number  of  such  organ" 
izations  was  three,  which  was  the  number  at  the  time 
of  the  Revolutionary  War. 

In  the  French  War,  Woburn  had  a  company  of 


225 


cavaln^  which  was  in  service  twelve  days;  and  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Revolution,  there  was  an  artillery 
company  in  town. 

In  the  last  French  War,  223  men  served  out  of  a 
population  of  1523,  representing  362  men  liable  to 
military  duty. 

In  the  Revolution  every  man  in  town  served  with 
few  exceptions,  being  about  four  hundred  in  all.  At 
that  time  there  were  in  the  Burlington  company,  one 
hundred  and  thirty- four  men,  and  about  as  many  in 
each  of  the  other  two  Woburn  companies. 

The  number  who  went  from  here  to  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  was  one  hundred  and  eighty,  of  whom  two, 
Asahel  Porter  and  Daniel  Thompson,  were  killed. 

At  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  there  was  a  company 
of  men  under  command  of  Capt.  Jonas  Richardson  of 
Woburn. 

During  the  war  of  181 2  Woburn  sent  out  but  few. 
In  the  Mexican  War,  one  only,  John  N.  Bennett 
enlisted,  and  served  through  the  war,  being  at  the 
battles  of  Chapultepec,  Molino  dee  Rey  and  the  taking 
of  the  City  of  Mexico,  although  John  Richardson  of 
Cummingsville  enlisted,  but  was  never  heard  from 
after  he  arrived  at  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Waterman  Brown 
was  in  the  navy. 

At  the  celebrated  fight  at  lyovewell's  Pond,  Frye- 
burg,  Maine,  where  the  great  Indian  Chief,  Paugus 
was  killed,  six  from  Woburn  were  engaged,  one  of 
whom,  Ensign  Seth  Wyman,  took  command  and  de- 
feated the   enemy,  after   Capt.  lyOvewell,  and  Lieuts. 


226 


Farwell  and  Robbins,  were  wounded.  Of  the  six,  one 
was  killed  and  three  wounded. 

The  successful  defense  of  Storer's  Garrison,  at 
Wells,  Maine,  b}^  Capt.  James  Converse,  with  thirty 
men,  materiallj^  assisted  by  several  brave  women  who 
loaded  the  guns,  and  in  some  instances  fired  with  the 
men,  against  nearly  five  hundred  French  and  Indians 
in  1692,  was  the  most  brilliant  exploit  ever  performed 
by  a  Woburn  officer,  for  which  he  was  made  Major. 

In  our  great  civil  war,  Woburn  furnished  in  all, 
seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  men. 

In  1797  a  company  of  cavalry  was  formed,  of 
which  Benjamin  Wyman  was  first  captain.  This 
troop  had  a  scarlet  and  yellow  uniform. 

The  once  famous  Washington  Light  Infantry  was 
chartered  in  1823.  Its  uniform  was  blue  with  gold 
lace,  white  pants,  and  bell-topped  hats,  with  a  tall 
plume.  The  Captains  were  Jeremiah  Converse,  Jr., 
James  Jaques,  Edmund  Parker,  and  Marshall  Tidd, 
who  was  its  last  Captain,  when  it  di.sbanded  in  1834, 
this  being  the  last,  till  the  Woburn  Mechanic  Phalanx 
was  chartered  in  1835,  and  still  exists. 

Up  to  1686,  all  able  bodied  men  from  16  j^ears  up- 
wards without  limit,  were  liable  to  duty. 

In  1689  the  term  was  fixed  from  16  to  60  years. 

Later,  the  law  required  all  able  bodied  men  between 
18  and  45  years  to  drill  and  practice,  under  penalty  of 
a  fine.    This  consisted  of  Ma}^  training  and  Fall  muster. 

In  Woburn,  in  comparatively  recent  times,  these 
troops  were  divided  by  the  ' '  Great  Road  ' '  into  the 


227 


East  and  West  Companies,  according  to  which  side  of 
the  road  they  resided. 

The  Militia  of  Ve  Olden  Tyme  met  and  chose  their 
officers ;  they  were  not  required  to  wear  uniforms  or 
even  to  dress  ahke,  but  each  wore  whatever  clothing 
suited  him  best,  whether  white,  black,  blue  or  gray; 
while  as  to  hats,  a  company  of  these  "  Bulwarks  of  the 
Nation,"  under  whose  protection  all  were  supposed  to 
be  safe,  had  about  as  many  different  shapes  and  colors, 
as  there  were  men  in  the  ranks.  Only  the  officers  had 
uniforms  alike.  These  consisted  of  a  dark  coat,  resplen- 
dent with  gold  lace  and  brass  buttons,  epauletts  nearly 
as  large  as  half  a  cabbage,  white  pants,  and  a  high 
bell  topped  leather  military  hat,  adorned  with  strings 
of  gold  braid,  surmounted  by  a  tall  white  feather  plume, 
tipped  with  red;  while  at  their  left  sides  swung  most 
innocent  looking  swords,  which  the  first  blow  of  a  cut- 
lass in  actual  service  would  render  useless.  Sometimes 
these  swords  and  scabbards,  for  want  of  practice, 
would  get  between  their  legs  in  marching,  causing  a 
loud  guffaw  from  the  spectators.  Occasionally  the 
officers  wore  other  military  hats,  with  fountain  or  pom- 
pone  plumes,  or  none  at  all. 

When  a  company  of  these  "  Dogs  of  War"  were 
approaching,  the  four  plumes  of  the  officers,  strung  in 
a  line  from  front  to  rear,  appeared  far  above  the  rest, 
swaying  as  they  walked,  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  while  the 
escort  on  each  side  of  the  road,  consisting  of  boys  with 
broomsticks,  wooden  swords,  poles  and  penny  whistles, 
kept  up  a  constant  din,  to  which  was  added  the  bark- 


228 


ing  of  dogs,  and  the  frequent  commands  of  the  officers, 
who  in  their  short  lived  importance,  made  the  most  of 
their  opportunity ;  the  whole  constituting  one  of  the 
most  motley  gatherings  possible  to  conceive  of. 

These  companies  usually  met  at  the  "Ark," 
Marshall  Fowle's  Tavern,  Wood's  Tavern  or  Parker's 
Inn.  All  hands  went  in  to  commence  with,  officers 
and  privates  took  a  "  7iipper^'  to  get  up  their  courage, 
then  with  much  parade,  the  line  was  formed  in  front 
of  the  Tavern,  the  colors  were  brought  out,  saluted 
with  fife  and  drum,  amid  the  hurrahs  of  the  crowd, 
the  Ensign  then  took  his  place  in  the  centre  of  the 
company,  unfurled  the  flag,  the  command  "company 
forward  march  "  was  given,  the  fife  and  drum  struck 
up  "  The  Girl  I  left  behind  me,"  "Soldier's  Joy,"  or 
some  other  old  English  martial  air,  and  away  they 
went  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  amid  the  cheers  of  the  crowd. 

At  one  May  training,  the  East  company,  com- 
manded  by    Capt.  R ,  marched  to  New   Bridge  ; 

when  nearly  there,  it  was  observed  that  the  Captain's 
tall  plume  began  to  execute  divers  gyrations  which 
indicated  that  its  wearer  had  "  canteened"  more  than 
became  his  dignity  as  a  commander,  when  all  of  a 
sudden,  the  word  "  halt  "  brought  the  company  to  an 
abrupt  stop,  while  a  second  command  of  "by  right  flank, 
guide  left,  into  line  backward  march,"  brought  the 
company  into  a  double  line  on  the  side  of  the  road  ; 

while    Captain    R ,    who  by   that   time   evidently 

thought  he  was  unfit  for  further  duty,  came  to  the  front, 
and  said,  "officers  and  privates,  (hie)  your  commanding 


229 


officer,  overcome  by  (hie)  the  great  heat,  and  bodily 
fatigue,  must  temporarily  (hie)  resign  his  command, 
and  now  deems  it  advisable  under  the  (hie)  circum- 
stances, to  execute  a  flank  movement  to  the  left,  all  by 
himself;  therefore,  First  Lieutenant  Fitzgerald,  you  are 
hereby  directed  to  take  command  of  this  company, 
(here  the  Captain  nearly  broke  dov/n,)  and  train  them 
(hie)  up  in  the  way  they  should  go,  (hie)  that  is  to 
say,  to  New  Bridge,  (hie,)  while  I  retire  into  the 
country  (hie)  on  a  pension,  for  the  rest  of  the  day." 
As  the  company  under  orders  of  Lieutenant  Fitzgerald 
started  again,  they  saw  their  late  commander  making 
good  but  crooked  time  over  the  pasture,  towards  the 
shelter  of  a  neighboring  forest. 

For  years  this  system  went  along  with  tolerable 
steadiness,  for  the  country  had  no  occasion  for  military 
aid. 

The  music  at  first  consisted  of  a  fife,  '  'snare  drum' ' 
and  bass  drum,  or  on  great  occasions,  two  fifes  playing 
duets,  two  snare  drums  and  bass  drum,  while  later  a 
bugle  and  sometimes  two  were  added,  especially  on 
Muster  Day,  a  great  gala  time  for  all  in  those  days  of 
few  public  gatherings,  when  the  two  bugles  were  often 
seen  with  each  company,  in  addition  to  the  regulation 
fife  and  drums,  all  hands  "  chipping  in,"  to  pay  the 
expense  of  so  fine  a  treat. 

It  was  considered  a  great  thing  to  hear  Oliver  H. 
Parker  and  Samuel  Buckman,  then  the  "Ned.  and  Jim. 
Kendall ' '  of  these  parts  play  as  duets,  alternately  with 
the  fife  and  drum,  old  English  melodies,  which  had 


230 


long  before  done  good  service  in  England's  wars,  and 
whose  martial  strains  could  be  heard  a  mile  away, 
stirring  up  all  hearers  to  the  highest  pitch  of  militar)^ 
enthusiasm.  Mr.  Parker's  bugle  being  now  in  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Parker. 

When  the  troops  arrived  at  the  ground,  usually 
"  Trooper's  Plain  "  on  Wyman  street,  and  marched  on 
to  the  field,  the  din  of  fifes,  "snare  drums,"  bass  drums, 
bugles,  commands  of  officers,  cheers  of  the  spectators, 
(for  everybody,  including  girls,  women,  boj-sand  men, 
of  course  went  to  muster,)  and  that  mysterious,  inde- 
scribable jargon  of  muster  field  sounds,  always  present 
at  such  times,  completely  prepared  all  for  a  day  of 
enjoyment.  Each  soldier  carried  a  canteen  filled  with 
water  or  blackstrap,  according  to  taste,  and  a  powder 
horn  slung  over  one  side,  or  later  a  cartridge  box  round 
the  waist,  for  the  guns  were  all  flint  locks  then,  while 
in  addition,  each  had  an  extra  flint  in  his  pocket,  and 
a  primming  wire  and  brush  slung  on,  to  clean  the  pan 
and  hole. 

The  side  shows  furnished  various  amusements  for 
the  crowd.  Punch  and  Judy,  Striped  Pig,  Spotted 
Cow,  Ring  tailed  Monkey,  double  headed  Calf,  wonder- 
ful Wax  works,  Potter  sleight  of  hand  and  other  enter- 
tainments were  crowded  all  day,  while  gingerbread  and 
doughnuts  were  sold  by  the  cord,  and  lemonade,  pop 
beer  and  "  Striped  Pig  "  toddy  by  the  barrel,  to  the 
hungry  and  thirsty  spectators. 

But  in  the  latter  part  of  the  afternoon,  the  crown- 
ing glory  was  the  "  sham  fight,"  when  the  field  was 


231 


divided  into  two  opposing  armies,  who  swayed  to  and 
fro  according  to  programme,  as  each  side  advanced  or 
retreated  in  turn,  firing  as  rapidly  as  possible,  while 
the  officers,  with  their  tall  plumes  were  seen  through 
the  smoke,  urging  their  men  on,  or  rallying  them  when 
driven  back,  till  the  ammunition  was  all  expended, 
when  as  the  troops  marched  off,  some  of  the  tall  plumes 
swayed  much  more  than  they  did  when  their  owners 
marched  on  in  the  morning,  owing  no  doubt  to  the 
glory  of  the  day,  and  the  martial  strain  being  too  much 
for  human  brains  to  bear,  while  some  of  the  wounded 
(?)  soldiers  had  to  be  helped  off  the  field. 

"  They  fought  the  fight  all  through  from  start, 
But  left  no  dead  to  load  the  cart." 

Sometimes  there  was  an  Indian  Muster^  when  a 
part  of  the  troops  dressed  and  painted  like  Indians, 
were  stationed  in  a  forest  near  by,  and  issuing  out, 
would  attack  the  soldiers,  only  after  a  sharp  fight  to  be 
driven  back  into  the  woods,  fighting  from  tree  to  tree' 
till  made  prisoners,  and  brought  under  guard  to  the 
field. 

In  time  all  this  degenerated  into  a  military  farce; 
the  v/eaker  ones  w^ere  purposel}^  chosen  ofl&cers;  Isaac 
Wood,  a  half-wit,  was  the  last  captain  of  the  East 
Company,  whose  whole  speech,  when  elected  captain, 
was  "  /  'cept.'"  The  men  often  carried  a  bayonet  on  a 
broom  stick,  or  a  gun  without  a  lock.  Some  wore 
pants  with  one  w^hite  leg  and  one  black  ;  one  had  for 
a  coat    a  meal  bag,  with  a  saltfish  as  a  tail,  and  half  a 


232 


cabbage  on  either  shoulder  for  epauletts.  A  cocked 
hat  with  a  long  rooster's  feather  was  common,  another 
had  a  poke  bonnet,  a  whole  section  appeared  with  pipes 
in  their  mouths  ;  another,  all  marched  lame  of  the  left 
leg,  with  other  devices  to  cast  ridicule  on  the  system. 
The  officers  being  in  full  sympathy  with  the  men,  did 
nothing  to  check  it,  till  finally  the  law  was  changed, 
and  instead  of  forced  militia  service,  volunteer  com- 
panies were  substituted.  These  chartered,  uniformed 
companies,  are  a  great  improvement  over  the  old  time 
troops,  and  have  continued  with  credit  to  the  present 
day,  constituting  the  active  Militia  force  of  the  Nation. 

On  October  1,1835,  the  Woburn  Mechanic  Phalanx 
was  chartered,  and  has  continued  to  this  day  to  be  an 
honor  and  safe  guard  to  the  city. 

For  some  years  great  rivalry  existed  among  the 
companies,  and  especially  between  the  Charlestown 
Light  Infantry  and  the  Phalanx. 

At  one  time,  the  test  was  the  greatest  number  in 
the  ranks,  the  Phalanx  keeping  the  preponderance. 

The  heighth  of  the  men  in  the  front  section  came 
next,  when  Woburn  showed  all  six  footers  in  the  van. 

Again,  it  was  the  tallest  man,  when  John  Winning 
of  the  Phalanx,  six  feet,  six  and  one  half  inches  tall 
in  his  stockings,  looked  calmly  down  on  the  other 
company's  six  foot  four  inches  with  dignified  com- 
posure, from  the  right  of  the  front  section  of  the  Pha- 
lanx, he  being  the  tallest  man  in  the  Brigade. 

The  days  of  the  old  East  and  West  Companies 
are  over,  and  the  former  scenes  and  amusements  of 


233 


May  training,  Country  and  Indian  Musters,  are  things 
of  the  past,  they  had  their  uses,  but  now  exist  only  in 
memory  and  writings. 

' '  Ye  Antient  Militia"  never  cut  a  prominent  figure 
in  our  Nation's  history;  it  is  only  to  soldiers  well 
educated  in  the  ' '  art  of  war ' '  that  we  must  look  when 
war  actually  comes,  and  armies  are  engaged,  when  the 
fate  of  the  day  hangs  in  the  balance,  and  when  at  the 
critical  moment, — 

A  thousand  bayonets  as  one. 
At  the  command  charge  on  a  run, 
The  leveled  line  of  flashing  steel 
With  fury  sweeps  across  the  field, 

And  at  its  back, 

Left  in  its  track, 
The  victims  of  a  high  trained  force, 
Lie  stretched  in  many  a  mangled  corpse; 

The  day  is  gained, 

But  mind  is  pained, 
To  see  these  "  Images  of  God," 
By  human  skill  piled  on  the  sod. 


234 


Meteorology  of  Wo  burn. 

Movement  is  life, 
Stagnation  is  death. 


What  lucky  mortals,  we  whose  lines 
Are  cast  in  Woburn  where  the  signs 
Portend  all  weathers  in  a  day. 
Hot,  cold,  fair,  foul,  none  come  to  stay. 
We  freeze,  then  presto,  iry  and  puff, 
Till  all  exclaim,  "enough,  enough." 
Toboggan  rules  the  host  to-day, 
Tomorrow  melts  the  snow  away; — 
Sweet  Spring  throws  garlands  on  each  bush, 
The  bluebirds  come,  the  mocking  thrush; — 
With  rapid  steps  the  change  goes  on. 
Till  torrid  heat  of  July  sun 
Drives  fevered  Yankees  to  the  beach, 
To  eat  their  clams,  a  bowl  full  each. 

And  cool  their  shins  midst  ocean's  roar, 
Then  saunter  home  to  melt  and  snore; 
Soon  Autumn  comes  with  frost  and  rain, 
Then  snow,  toboggan  rules  again; 

We' re  drenched  with  showers,  dried  to  dust. 
To  lightning's  flash  submit  we  must, 
The  blizzard's  power  freezing  obey. 
Hail  storms  we  have  while  making  hay; — 
In  short,  the  ' '  spice  of  life  ' '  is  ours, 
Drawn  from  all  Boreas'  ample  powers. 


235 


Nature  works  solely,  surely  and  eternally  by  fixed 
and  unvarying  laws. 

The  weather,  fickle  as  it  appears  to  be  ;  the  winds, 
apparently  blowing  at  random  ;  the  ocean  currents, 
surging  to  and  fro  in  wild  confusion,  as  it  would  seem 
the  sports  of  chance,  all  obey  these  great  and  perfect 
ordinances,  traveling  year  after  year  in  their  appointed 
channels,  with  a  regularity  vastly  greater  than  the 
most  finished  machine  made  by  man.  'Tis  perfection 
itself,  but  we  mortals,  by  our  best  efforts,  can,  in  part 
only,  comprehend  the  wonderful  mechanism,  by  which 
we,  and  the  globe  itself,  live,  move,  and  have  our  being. 

The  sun  alone  is  the  cause  of  all  these  phenomena, 
and  of  light,  heat,  winds,  rain,  snow,  lightning,  and 
ocean  currents;  neither  the  moon,  stars  or  planets 
having  the  least  influence  in  the  matter;  blot  him  out 
of  existence,  and  movement,  which  is  life,  would  cease, 
and  stagnation,  which  is  death,  would  ensue,  while  the 
stillness  and  darkness  of  the  tomb  would  reign  over 
the  earth;  its  heat  expands  the  air,  makes  it  lighter,, 
and  causes  it  to  rise;  the  colder  atmosphere  around 
rushes  in  to  fill  the  partial  vacuum  thus  formed,  produc- 
ing wind;  as  these  winds  come  from  different  quarters, 
their  joint  action,  and  the  motion  of  the  earth  on  its 
axis,  give  a  whirling  movement,  thus  no  wind  blows 
straight;  while  the  stronger  it  is,  the  less  breadth  it 
covers,  and  the  shorter  time  it  lasts  in  a  given  locality. 

Wherever  the  sun,  the  great  pump  of  the  solar 
system,  is  vertical,  there  is  the  greatest  heat,  and 
consequently  the  greatest  rise  of  air  and  moisture;  there 


236 


originate  the  great  disturbances  of  the  atmosphere;  in 
fact,  the  tropics  are  the  birth  places  of  the  storms,  and 
the  cradle  of  the  children  of  Boreas.  This  is  the  cause 
of  the  trade  winds,  which  in  our  northern  hemisphere, 
rush  from  the  northeast,  southwest  on  the  surface, 
towards  the  equator;  for  as  the  greatest  heat  is  there, 
'tis  there  the  greatest  rising  takes  place;  the  vacuum 
must  constantly  be  filled,  this  is  accomplished  by  draw- 
ing colder  air  from  the  north,  this  air,  owing  to  the 
motion  of  the  earth  on  its  axis,  sags  behind,  and  forms  a 
steady  wind  from  the  northeast,  called  the  trade  wind; — 
while  the  vast  quantity  of  air,  laden  with  moisture, 
going  up  by  reason  of  its  lightness,  has  the  accelerated 
speed  of  the  tropical  regions,  and  instead  of  sagging 
behind,  outruns  the  slower  motion  of  the  earth,  in  the 
northern  latitudes,  so  travels  northeasterly  over  the 
other,  forming  the  upper  or  return  trade  winds,  being 
the  great  water  carriers  by  which  our  northern  regions 
are  watered  in  the  shape  of  northeast  and  southwest 
storms;  for  as  they  are  cooled  more  and  more  in  their 
progress  north,  they  become  heavier,  descend,  and 
strike  the  earth  farther  north  or  south,  according  to 
the  season,  the  colder  air  condenses  the  moisture  which 
these  carrj',  and  rains  ensue ;  all  our  spring  and  fall 
storms  are  from  this  great  source. 

Now  it  will  be  seen,  that  as  the  sun  goes  south  in 
the  fall,  these  upper  trades  follow  him,  therefore  the 
place  where  they  strike  the  earth,  producing  rains,  will 
be  more  and  more  southerly  as  the  season  progresses, 
until  December,  when  the  sun  is  at  his  extreme  southern 


237 


limit,  the  storms  have  mainly  left  us,  and  fall  farther 
south. 

On  the  contrary,  as  the  sun  returns  north  after  the 
New  Year,  these  upper  trades  come  nearer  and  nearer, 
striking  here  more  and  more,  till  in  March  and  April 
the  culmination  is  reached  in  this  latitude,  when  we 
have  the  heaviest  rains  of  the  year;  then  they  mostly 
pass  over  our  heads,  leaving  but  little  rain  till  fall, 
when  they  again  visit  us  in  their  march  southward. 


Summer 


JtorJiPoU 


Sontli  Pole 


Thus  we  have  two  rainy  seasons  each  year,  while 
in  between,  storms  are  light  and  uncommon, but  thunder 
showers,  formed  in  part  by  local  evaporation  take  their 
places. 

The  constant  rising  of  the  air  at  all  seasons,  since 
it  is  almost  always  warmer  near  the  earth  than  above. 


238 


may,  and  probably  does,  furnish  a  satisfactory  reason, 
why  the  clouds,  which  are  formed  of  separate,  exceed- 
ingly small,  light,  hollow  particles  of  moisture,  nearly 
always  remain  suspended  at  a  distance  from  the  earth, 
as  this  upward  movement  of  the  air,  constitutes  a  per- 
petual, resisting  power  cushion,  at  the  equalizing 
heighth,  which  prevents  them  from  coming  lower,  until 
condensation  forms  drops  heavy  enough  to  overcome 
the  resistance;  when  that  taices  place,  these  clouds 
descend  in  the  form  of  rain. 

The  most  rain  falls  at  night,  because  by  day,  the 
sun's  heat  above  the  clouds  hold  condensation  in 
check,  and  dissipates  in  part,  the  clouds  by  evaporation 
and  absorption. 

These  phenomena  happen  every  year,  varied  in  a 
small  way  now  and  then,  by  local  causes;  therefore  we 
can  predict  what  will  occur  in  each  month  and  its 
parts,  with  reasonable  certainty. 

Thunder    Storms. 

Thunder  storms  are  of  four  kinds,  as  classified  by 
observers,  but  two  only  are  common.  The  first  origi- 
nate like  blizzards,  that  is,  by  the  meeting  of  the  upper 
trades,  and  the  return  polar  winds,  east  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river,  these  unite  and  are  deflected  eastward, 
forming  regular  thunder  storm  areas,  or  "  summer 
blizzards."  These  areas  travel  regularly  eastward,  at 
the  rate  of  nearly  thirty  miles  an  hour,  acquiring 
strength  from  local  evaporation  as  they  proceed,  the 
above  being  the  reason  why  they  usually  come  from 


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239 


the  west  in  progression.  These  are  the  heaviest,  most 
frequent  and  dangerous,  and  are  predicted  with  reason- 
able certainty,  as  the  observers  can  calculate  by  their 
rate  of  speed,  when  they  will  reach  a  given  locality. 

Cirrus,  or  more  especially  cirro-stratus  clouds 
usually  precede  these  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  distinguish 
them  from  those  of  local  formation. 

The  second  kind  are  off-hand  affairs,  got  up  in  a 
daj^  from  materials  on  the  spot.  In  very  hot  weather, 
the  evaporation  becomes  excessive,  the  rapidly  rising 
air  surcharged  with  moisture,  yields  readily  to  the 
colder  currents  above,  great  and  sudden  condensation 
ensues,  large  masses  of  white,  and  then  dark  cotton- 
bale  or  cumulus  clouds,  ordinarily  called  "thunder 
pillars"  quickly  form,  a  whirling  motion  begins,  owing 
to  the  different  currents  of  air  uniting,  and  the  shower 
travels  rapidly,  but  over  a  narrow  belt  of  country,  on 
its  way  eastward  to  the  sea,  leaving  its  treasures  of 
rain  behind.  These  storms  can  be  distinguished  from 
the  others,  by  the  front  being  composed  almost  entirely 
of  ' '  thunder  pillars, ' '  and  by  the  almost  entire  absence 
of  "  cirrus,"  and  especially  of  "cirro-stratus"  clouds, 
which  are  characteristic  of  the  approach  of  the  other 
kind.  Often  the  air  is  not  very  full  of  moisture,  in 
that  case  these  cotton-bale  clouds  will  form  during  the 
afternoon,  and  disappear  slowly  by  absorption,  as  can 
often  be  seen  by  closely  watching  for  sometime,  a  par- 
ticular cloud. 

Locally  formed  thunder  showers  travel  higher  than 
those  in  thunder  storm  areas,  and  the  lightning  issued 


240 


from  these,  being  in  a  higher,  more  rarefied  air,  is  of 
a  light  violet  color,  and  frequently  takes  the  form  of 
what  is  known  as  heat  or  sheet  lightning,  which  is  not  a 
reflection  from  another  cloud,  as  is  popularly  supposed, 
but  originates  in  each;  these  form  no  bolts,  owing  to 
their  weakness,  and  not  being  in  any   cyclonic  area, 
often  have  no  propelling  power;  when  such  is  the  case, 
they  disappear  by  absorption  ;  perhaps  near  the  sea 
coast,  a  circulatory  motion  of  the  air  traveling  east- 
ward overhead,  occurs  in  July  and  August,  owing  to 
the  wind  from  the  ocean  coming  inland  on  the  surface, 
to  fill  the  partial  vacuum  caused  by  the  great  rising  of 
the  heated  air,  bat  this,  if  true,  would  only  affect  a 
very  narrow  strip  of  country,  but  might,  from  its  moist 
air,  account  for  the  electricity  in  these  clouds,  the  air 
of  the  land  being  very  dry;  but  in  those  which  are  in 
thunder  storm  areas,  which  are  lower,  the  lightning  is 
white,   and  concentrates  into  lines  or  bolts,  they  are 
zigzag  in  their  movements,  owing  to  their  power  and 
the  resistance  of  the  air. 

It  has  been  said,  "  that  these  local  showers  often 
turn  northward,  west  of  here,  attracted  by,  and  follow- 
ing the  Merrimack  and  Concord  rivers  to  the  sea," 
this  may  be  in  part  the  reason,  but  a  greater  cause 
probably  is,  that  these  rivers  afford  more  moisture  for 
their  formation,  therefore  the  cloud  is  oftener  originated 
there. 

The  words  "cirrus  clouds,"  mean  a  "mackerel 
sky,"  and  "cirro-stratus,"  the  same  clouds  running 
into  long  streaks  somewhat  darker. 


241 


I^IGHTNING. 

Lightning  accompanying  cyclonic  thunder  storm 
areas,  is  the  most  intense  and  violent;  while  in  those 
of  local  origin,  it  is  usually  light,  or  with  comparatively 
few  discharges. 

In  cities  the  liability  of  damage  from  this  source, 
is  much  less,  owing  to  the  numberless  points  which 
silently  dissipate  the  electricity,  than  in  the  country, 
where  it  is  five  times  greater. 

The  chance  of  a  building  being  struck  is  exceed- 
ingly small .  In  this  state  in  1 89 1 ,  only  eight  dwellings 
and  twelve  barns  were  so  injured,  while  in  1892,  the 
number  was  twelve  dwellings  and  fifteen  barns. 

Of  trees,  the  oak,  elm,  pine,  being  tall,  are 
especially  liable  to  be  struck,  though  resinous  kinds 
are  usually  exempt,  owing  to  the  resin  in  them  being 
a  poor  conductor;  but  the  beech,  ash,  maple,  and  all 
round  headed  ones  usually  escape. 

In  four  years,  1890-3,  in  the  United  States,  784 
lives  were  lost  by  lightning,  an  average  of  196  per 
year,  four  to  a  state,  or  one  person  per  year,  for  every 
357,000  of  the  whole  population;  but  some  states  like 
California,  are  almost  entirely  exempt,  so  the  loss 
averages  greater  in  the  states  east  of  the  Mississippi 
river. 

In  8  years  ending  1892,  3516  fires  caused  by  light- 
ning, inflicted  a  loss  of  $12,663,835,  or  about  two  cents 
per  capita,  per  year,  but  this  was  largely  east. 


242 
lyiGHTNiNG   Rods. 

A  lightning  rod,  if  of  sufficient  size ;  if  properly- 
placed;  ?/ scientifically  insulated  ;  if  n&ver  disjointed; 
//"the  points  are  always  kept  bright  and  sharp ;  if  the 
ground  end  is  deep  enough  to  be  always  in  damp  earth, 
or  connected  with  a  good  conductor;  and  if  a  bolt  too 
large  for  its  conducting  capacity  does  not  try  its  powers; 
in  short,  if  it  is  scientifically  perfect  in  construction, 
and  always  kept  in  perfect  order,  it  is  usually  a  pro- 
tection to  a  building  ;  but  as  really  not  one  rod  in  a 
hundred  is  large  enough  to  carry  the  heaviest  dis- 
charges; is  not^nt  on  just  right;  is  not  properly  insulated 
and  always  kept  so;  is  not  carried  deep  enough  to  be 
always  in  moist  earth;  is  not  always  kept  with  bright 
sharp  points;  is  not  watched  closely  enough  to  keep  it 
in  perfect  order;  and  is  usually  wet  when  the  pinch 
comes,  together  with  the  insulators,  which  gives  the 
bolt  a  chance  to  enter  the  building,  as  water  on  their 
surfaces  transforms  them  into  good  conductors  for  the 
time  being,  it  is  usually  in  bad  condition,  and  a  source 
of  danger,  rather  than  the  shield  it  is  supposed  to  be. 

So,  theoretically,  it  is  a  reliable  protector;  but 
generally  practically  worthless  or  dangerous. 

Therefore  either  make  up  your  mind  to  have  a  rod 
put  on  by  a  first-class  expert,  and  examined  by  him  at 
least  once  a  year,  and  then  suppose  you  are  protected, 
as  in  such  case  you  probably  will  be;  or  take  your 
chances,  which  are  about  199999  to  i  that  you  will 
escape  being  electrocuted,  while  if  that  one   chance 


243 


should  happen  to  be  your  lot,  your  life  insurance  policy 
will  fill  up  the  gap  you  leave  in  the  world,  or  if  your 
buildings  should  be  lightningized,  you  will  very  likely 
obtain  on  the  fire  insurance  policy,  more  than  they  were 
worth,  which  will  fill  the  hole  left  in  your  pocket. 
Wisdom  is  profitable. 

Thr   Moon. 

It  is  a  popular  delusion,  that  the  moon  influences 
the  weather,  causing  rain  or  dryness,  according  as  her 
horns  in  the  quarters  are  turned  up  or  down;  and  when 
at  her  full,  causes  frosts,  but  such  is  not  the  fact. 

As  she  gives  no  heat,  therefore  she  has  no  power. 
She  has  no  atmosphere,  nor  a  drop  of  water  on  her 
surface.  She  shines  in  a  clear  frosty  night  simply 
because  the  north  wind  brings  fair  cold  weather;  this 
happens  as  often  when  she  is  in  her  quarters,  as  when 
she  is  full,  but  we  observe  it  more  when  in  her  full. 

But  the  beautiful  "  Queen  of  Night  "  sits  on  her 
ebon  throne  among  the  stars,  and  rules  the  Kingdom 
of  Darkness,  with  the  silver  sceptre  delegated  to  her  by 
the  "King  of  Day."  She  cheers  us  by  her  heavenly 
beauty,  and  charms  us  by  the  silvery  splendors  of  her 
nightly  radiance,  but  her  power  is  not  otherwise  of  this 
world.  She  was  not  made  to  rule  the  day,  to  create 
tornadoes  or  frosts,  to  withhold  or  spill  water  from  her 
queenly  horns,  or  spread  light,  or  give  heat  to  the 
earth.  Her's  is  a  gentler  power,  a  reflected  brightness; 
it  is  to  cheer  us  in  the  darkness  of  the  night;  to  charir 


244 


us  by  her  milder,  softer  glow;  to  perform  her  allotted 
task  at  a  time  when  her  great  consort,  the  Sun,  retires. 
So  each  will  accomplish  the  part  assigned  it  by  the 
Creator,  until,  like  the  King  of  Day  himself,  she  too  will 
rise  for  the  last  time  over  the  crumbling  remains  of  earth 
and  give  place  to  the  greater  brilliancy  of  the  heavenly 
radiance,  which  will  succeed  the  "wrecks  of  matter 
and  the  crush  of  worlds." 

Indian    Summer. 

Oh  sweetest  time  among  the  changing  months, 
When  Nature  summons  all  her  varied  powers 
For  one  grand  artist  dash,  to  close  her  annual  round 
With  glory  fitting  for  the  dying  year. 

The  period  of  soft,  warm  weather  in  autumn,  when 
summer  once  more  returns  in  all  her  glory,  to  again 
smile  on  us  ere  winter  sets  in,  is  a  necessary  conse- 
quence of  our  geographical  position. 

The  ground  for  four  months  under  a  tropical  sun, 
has  been  strongly  and  deeply  heated ;  the  northern 
winds  have  passed  bj^  and  for  the  time  being  have  filled 
the  vacuum  further  south;  a  lull  consequently  occurs, 
when  tor  a  few  days  the  warm  southwest  winds  return 
unmolested,  and  the  bottled  up  heat  left  in  the  earth, 
comes  to  the  surface  to  do  its  final  work  for  the  season. 
So  old  Boreas  stays  his  hand  for  a  short  space,  and 
Indian  summer  with  its  warm  air  and  bright  sun  ripens 
up  the  leaves,  till  the  sap  is  elaborated,  leaving  by 


yz^^fz^^ 


245 


chemical  action,  the  glories  of  her  art  on  their  highly 
painted  surfaces. 

This  grand  annual  exhibition  is  not  possible  in 
countries  like  England,  where  the  autumnal  air  is 
damper  and  cooler. 


Perpetuai.  Monthi^y  Weather  Tabids. 
January. 

This  will  be  the  coldest  month.  As  the  upper 
warm  currents  do  not  reach  here  much,  or  strike  with 
great  force  when  they  do,  just  now,  the  deposits  of  snow 
and  rain  for  the  first  half  will  be  moderate,  but  increase 
towards  the  close. 

The  air  will  average  the  calmest  of  the  year,  except 
in  July  its  corresponding  opposite. 

As  the  month  nearsits  end,  more  signs  of  activity 
will  be  manifest,  as  the  upper  trades  are  coming  nearer. 

A  thaw  will  be  in  order  about  the  20th,  probably 
lasting  some  days. 

Blizzards  will  begin  to  show  themselves  with  force 
and  frequency. 

February. 

From  first  to  last  of  this  month,  the  probability  of 
storms  with  deeper  snows  will  increase,  while  the  cold 
will  gradually  diminish.  The  winds  will  gain  in  fre- 
quency and  intensity,  with  more  sudden  changes. 


246 
March. 

The  rain  bearing  upper  trades,  are  now  upon  us 
in  full  force,  so  northeast  storms  are  in  order.  These 
storms  are  cyclonic,  coming  from  the  tropics,  and  much 
rain  and  cloudiness  will  ensue  with  high  winds. 
Blizzards  have  "  petered  out,"  and  their  place  is  filled 
by  east  and  northeast  winds. 

ApHl. 

The  increasing  warmth  is  now  more  and  more 
"holding  up"  the  rain  bearing  winds,  therefore  the 
rains  will  be  lighter  and  warmer.  As  the  country 
north  is  coming  under  the  influence  of  the  sun,  the 
northwest  winds  will  be  held  back,  and  fringe  winds 
from  the  ocean,  will  more  and  more  take  their  place. 

May. 

During  this  month,  the  cyclonic  northeast  storms 
will  dwindle  to  light  mild  affairs,  compared  with  those 
of  March  and  April.  Towards  the  last,  they  will  be 
scarce,  lighter  and  warm. 

June. 

The  sun  is  now  so  high,  and  the  heat  so  great, 
that  these  storms  have  passed  overhead  north,  conse- 
quently from  about  the  middle  to  July  15th,  a  drought 
is  certain  to  come,  for  thunder  storms  are  not  yet  in 


247 


order,  at  least  till  after  July  4th.  As  the  sea  shore 
aud  ocean  are  getting  heated  up,  the  east  winds  will 
subside,  therefore  the  heat  will  begin  to  accumulate, 
which  will  soon  cause  thunder  showers,  so  get  in  your 
hay  now. 

July. 

After  the  4th,  look  out  for  thunder  showers,  which 
are  more  and  more  likely  as  the  month  wears  away. 
Northeast  and  southwest  storms  are  very  unlikely; 
but  their  places  are  supplied  by  thunder  storm  areas 
from  the  west,  towards  the  last. 

August. 

Cyclonic  thunder  storm  areas  from  the  west,  now 
take  the  place  of  northeast  storms  of  the  spring.  These 
march  in  regular  order  from  west  to  east  at  the  rate  of 
nearly  thirty  miles  an  hour. 

The  air  will  be  very  humid,  owing  to  great  evapo- 
ration, and  the  absence  of  cold  currents,  to  condense 
the  invisible  moisture  into  rain.  The  equalization  of 
the  temperature,  owing  to  the  whole  country  being 
thoroughly  heated,  produces  for  the  time  being,  a 
condition  of  the  atmosphere  akin  to  that  in  the  dol- 
drums or  horse  latitudes  near  the  equator,  that  is,  Dog 
Days;  this  lasts  till  the  cold  winds  begin  to  blow,  and 
the  crickets  sing  the  requiem  of  summer,  and  the 
approach  of  Indian  summer. 


248 
September. 

The  thunder  showers  have  nearly  ceased,  and 
north  winds  come. 

As  the  fall  storms  will  not  reach  us  before  the 
middle  of  the  month,  and  then  be  lighter  than  those 
of  spring,  a  drought  will  ensue,  and  continue  for  some- 
time. Gales  may  be  expected,  and  cold  northwest 
winds,  which  go  south  to  fill  the  vacuum  there. 
These  gales,  cold  winds  and  storms  are  the  result 
of  the  sun  going  south,  and  will  soon  give  way  for 
Indian  summer. 

October. 

North,  northwest  and  west  winds  now  have  the 
sway,  while  for  east  winds  there  will  be  little  place. 
The  lull  that  always  ensues  at  this  time,  and  the 
warmth  yet  in  the  ground,  together  with  the  southwest 
winds  prevalent  now,  all  combine  to  cause  the  beautiful 
Indian  summer  days,  the  finest  of  the  year. 

November. 

Cloudy  weather  will  be  more  and  more  the  rule, 
but  with  no  heavy  rains,  because  there  is  only  difference 
enough  between  the  two  currents,  in  temperature,  to 
condense  moderately  into  drizzle. 

December. 
The  sun  is  now  lowest  in  the  heavens,  therefore 


249 


the  winds  will  be  light,  and  the  deposits  small,  less 
than  in  any  other  month  except  June. 

The  end  has  come.  The  Old  Year  lays  down  to 
die,  wrapped  in  a  mantle  of  clouds,  for  its  work  is 
done.  The  snow  is  its  winding  sheet,  on  which  the 
New  Year  dances,  as  it  greets  the  returning  sun,  on 
starting  to  go  over  the  same  road,  with  the  same  results 
in  the  everlasting  circuit. 


Tabi,e  of  Daily  Weather   Signs. 
Spring. 

Spring   storms  bring  greatest   rains,  condensation  is 

less  in  fall. 
Cumulus  or  cotton-bale  clouds  are  rainless  now. 
Stratus  or  long  clouds  mean  a  storm. 
North  wind  in  cloudy  weather  means  fair. 
South  wind  in  fair  means  foul. 
All  rains   now   are   northeast   or  southwest  cyclonic 

storms. 
After  the  middle  of  April,  storms  will  decrease. 
By  the  last  of  May,  they  will  have  nearly  ceased. 
Cloudy  weather  will  be  common,  for  the  upper  trade 

winds  rule. 
There  is  no  such  thing  as  the  line  storm,  several  happen. 

Summer. 

No  cyclonic  storms,  except  thunder  storm  areas,  will 

occur  after  July  i . 
The  last  of  June  and  first  of  July  will  be  dry. 


250 


Cotton-bale  or  thunder  clouds  furnish  nearly  all  the 

rain. 
If  they  turn  black  and  increase  after  midday,  look  out 

for  showers. 
If  they  stand  still  or  decrease,  it  will  be  fair. 
When  swallows  fly  low,  look  out  for  rain. 
If  they  fly  high,  it  will  be  clear. 

A  morning  rainbow  means  foul,  an  afternoon  one,  fair. 
Heavy  dew  is  a  sure  sign  of  fair  weather. 
When  cobwebs  are  visible,  it  means  the  same,  for  the 

dew  is  on  them. 
When  plants  open  their  leaves  early,  they  say  "fair," 
When  they  keep  them  closed,  or  open  slow,  they  say 

"foul." 
A  large,  or  coppery  sun,  indicates  fair  weather. 
A  small,  or  light  colored  one,  foul. 
When  the  moon  goes  a  wading,  the  fair  weather's 

fading . 
When  you  see  a  ring  around  the  moon,  she's  peeping 

through  clouds. 
A  long  continued  hot  spell,  brings  a  long,  cold  one. 
A  long  continued  cold  spell  brings  a  long  warm  one. 
All  signs  fail  in  a  dry  time;  because  of  equal  temper- 
ature of  the  air. 
In  a  hot,  dry  time,  there  is  most  moisture  in  the  air. 
When  a  cold  current  comes  it  will  rain,  not  before. 

Autumn. 

A  drouth  at  first.     N.  E.  storms  later. 

Frost  and  dew  each  mean  fair  weather. 

Halos,  Sun  dogs  and  ringed  moons,  foul. 

Cumulus  or  cotton  bale  clouds  bring  no  rain  now. 

Long  or  stratus  clouds  bring  rain  soon. 

Northeast  storms  usually  end  with  milder  weather. 


261 


A  thunder  storm  now,  means  very  cold  at  once. 
There  is  no  special  line  storm,  several  happen. 
A  full  moon  never  causes  frost.    It  has  no  such  power, 
'Tis  the  north  wind  that  does  it  by  great  radiation. 
When  sounds  are  heard  a  long  distance  it  will  surely 

rain. 
When  animals  are  uneasy  it  will  rain. 
Kven  temperatures  mean  fair  weather. 
When  "  Shepherd  North  Wind  "  drives  sheep  in  the 

sky,  it  will  be  fair. 
When  "  Wolf  South  Wind  "  comes,  rain  ensues. 
Fog  is  a  cloud  near  the  earth. 
Mist  is  a  light  rain  from  such  a  cloud. 


Winter. 

December  will  furnish  little  snow  or  rain. 

Fine  snow,  hail  or  wind  indicate  a  cold  spell. 

Large  snow  flakes  with  little  wind,   mean  a  "mild' 

time." 
ly'jng  or  stratus  clouds  at  the  Southwest  mean  wet  and 

warmer. 
Cumulus  clouds  mean  fair  and  cold. 
The  same  clouds,  or  "Cape  Ann  Rocks"   over  the 

ocean,  mean  "  very  cold." 
After  every  cold  snap,  expect  snow  or  rain. 
After  every  warm  spell,  look  out  for  a  blizzard. 
At  the  middle  of  winter,  expect  calm  weather,  and   a 

thaw. 
At  the  end  of  winter,  expect  more  and  heavier  storms. 
Small  flakes  indicate  little  snow,  larger  ones  a  heavier 

fall. 
Raw  air  means  warmer  and  stormy. 


252 


Epilogue. 


Reader,  my  self  allotted  task,  to  photograph  by 
mental  process,  Woburn's  old  legends,  traditions  and 
historical  waifs  not  hitherto  attempted,  is  finished, 
and  you  have  seen  the  result. 

Do  not  think  these  things  strange  or  ridiculous, 
for  they  were  the  legitimate  outcome  of  the  situation, 
and  suitable  for  those  people  and  times. 

If  you  contrast  these,  with  our  higher  condition, 
you  must  keep  in  mind  the  more  exacting  demands 
we  encounter. 

The  old  was  good  for  the  old ;  the  new  is  best  for 
the  present. 

In  the  future,  the  same  criticisms  will  be  made  of 
us,  as  we  now  make  of  those  of  a  hundred  years  ago. 
To  sigh  for  the  old  days  of  Adam  and  of  Eve,  is 
nonsense.  Live  in  the  present,  with  its  greater  op- 
portunities and  higher  aims.  Keep  up  with  the  times 
and  not  revel  in  the  dust  of  antiquity.  Retain  what 
is  best  of  the  old,  reject  the  bad  of  the  new. 

Let  us  all  march  on  in  the  front  rank  of  progress, 
with  the  examples  of  the  past  before  us,  and  die  at 
our  posts,  fighting  with  modern  weapons,  for  what  is 
good  and  right,  in  the  higher  light  which  surrounds  us. 


\J 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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